Dissertations / Theses: 'Biology Education, Secondary'

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Wedel, Elsa. "Biology in Swedish Upper Secondary School : Does it Contribute to Ecocentrism?" Thesis, Linköpings universitet, Institutionen för fysik, kemi och biologi, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-157624.

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Environmental issues are increasingly on the agenda and education is recognised as an important part in turning the negative trend. Originally formulated in 1976, the intent of environmental education was toprotect the nature from human impact and to induce in students a sense of the natural worlds’ own values.However, this has come to change during the years and the focus now lies on the values that nature possess for humans, in the shape of education for sustainable development. Though creating a concern for the environmental issues, critics point out that the anthropocentric attitude is not as strongly committed to protecting the nature as the ecocentric attitudes are, and therefore suggest that ecocentrism should be included in the curriculums. Assuming that biology in Swedish upper secondary school is the only subject where such values may be considered this study examines whether there is a significant difference between students who undergo these classes and students who do not, in terms of their attitudes. The study was divided in two parts, where firstly a content analysis was performed to confirm that biology was indeed the only subject to include ecocentric values, and secondly a comparative study was performed with students (n=82) taking biology and students not taking biology in Swedish upper secondary school. The results imply that biology is unique in including ecocentric attitudes, however, not to the extent that was expected. Furthermore, the results reveal that there is no significant difference between students taking the biology classes and students who do not, implying that the subject biology is not successful in increasing students ecocentric attitudes.

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Lewis, Matthew. "Laboratory Experiences in Mathematical Biology for Post-Secondary Mathematics Students." DigitalCommons@USU, 2016. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/5219.

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In addition to the memorization, algorithmic skills and vocabulary which is the default focus in many mathematics classrooms, professional mathematicians are expected to creatively apply known techniques, construct new mathematical approaches and communicate with and about mathematics. We propose that students can learn these professional, higher level skills through Laboratory Experiences in Mathematical Biology (LEMBs) which put students in the role of mathematics researcher creating mathematics to describe and understand biological data. LEMBs are constructed so they require no specialized equipment and can easily be run in the context of a college math class. Students collect data and develop mathematical models to explain the data. In this work examine how LEMBs are designed with the student as the primary focus. We explain how well-designed LEMBs lead students to interact with mathematics at higher levels of cognition while building mathematical skills sought after in both academia and industry. Additionally, we describe the online repository created to assist in the teaching and further development of LEMBs. Since student-centered teaching is foreign to many post-secondary instructors, we provide research-based, pedagogical strategies to ensure student success while maintaining high levels of cognition.

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Chabalengula, Vivien Mweene Lorsbach Anthony W. "The nature and extent of scientific literacy themes coverage in Zambian high school biology curriculum." Normal, Ill. : Illinois State University, 2006. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=1251867051&SrchMode=1&sid=3&Fmt=2&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1178198735&clientId=43838.

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Thesis (Ed. D.)--Illinois State University, 2006.
Title from title page screen, viewed on May 3, 2007. Dissertation Committee: Anthony W. Lorsbach (chair), Karen K. Lind, Cynthia J. Moore, Thomas P. Crumpler. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 164-176) and abstract. Also available in print.

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Rudolph, Cynthia Thompson. "An evaluation of a foundational course in high school biology as measured by cognitive and affective factors." Thesis, Wingate University, 2016. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10143687.

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There is little written about the use of foundational courses in high school science. This study seeks to identify if a foundational course in high school biology improves student outcomes as measured by Biology I EOC exam proficiency scale scores and student growth. Efforts were made to determine differences in cognitive skill areas and affective/conative skill areas as students progress from the foundational course of Greenhouse Biology (GH Bio) to Biology I. Three years of test score data from over 15,000 student participants are evaluated, as well as extant survey data from biology teachers and district student scheduling personnel. Findings from the study indicate GH Bio does make a difference in academic outcomes in students taking the foundational course before taking the Biology I course, and subsequently, the Biology I EOC exam. Findings also show there are cognitive, affective, and conative differences between the GH Bio students and their non-GH Bio peers while in Biology I. The study also seeks to determine why some students are scheduled for GH Bio and others are not. Findings indicate there are variances as to the reasons and intent for scheduling students into GH Bio. Some students who could benefit from the course are not being scheduled into the course.

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Jorstad, Susan. "An analysis of factors influencing the teaching of evolution and creation by Arizona high school biology teachers." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/280023.

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This study examined the amount of emphasis given by Arizona high school biology teachers to the topics of evolutionary theory and special creation, as explanations for the origin and diversity of life on earth. A questionnaire was mailed to all Arizona public high school biology teachers in March of 2000, to gather data on teachers' classroom practices and attitudes towards evolution and creation, information on teachers' educational and professional backgrounds, their religious preferences, and any perceptions of pressure regarding the teaching of evolution or creation from outside sources. Sixty-five percent (final n = 419) of the questionnaires were returned. Analysis confirmed that, while a strong majority (96%) of Arizona teachers gave some coverage to evolutionary theory, a significant proportion (33%) reported fewer than three class periods per semester in which evolution was a major topic; 10% left it out entirely. Fourteen percent of the teachers reported that they gave moderate-to-strong emphasis to religious explanations of the origins and diversity of life. It was unclear whether this was presented as an alternative scientific theory, or as religion or philosophy. Between ten and thirty percent also rejected the scientific validity of evolutionary theory, rejected the evolution of humans from ape-like ancestors, thought that religious explanations should be taught as part of high school biology classes, or agreed that creationism has a valid scientific foundation. The amount of emphasis given evolution by a teacher correlated positively with teaching experience, number of college classes in evolutionary biology taken by the teacher, the amount of in-service training a teacher had had on teaching evolutionary theory, and age. It correlated negatively with membership in Conservative Christian religious denominations and with degree of religious fervor. Interestingly, the possession of a degree in biological sciences (e.g., versus a degree in education) had no effect. When teacher attitudes (as measured by a series of opinion questions) were taken into account in multiple regression models, all variables except specific evolutionary biology coursework became non-significant. The only variables that correlated with teacher emphasis on creationism were Conservative Christian church membership and religious fervor---both positive correlations. Again, education had no effect.

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Brown, Judith Ann. "Unifying concepts in the high school biology curriculum--one or many : an investigation of rural, suburban, and urban schools /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/7544.

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Leung, Wai-ming. "A study of the implementation of the teacher assessment scheme in the sixth form biology curriculum of Hong Kong from the students' perspective." [Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong], 1994. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B13833121.

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McCall, Madelon J. Conaway Betty J. "Qualities of effective secondary science teachers perspectives of university biology students /." Waco, Tex. : Baylor University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2104/5244.

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Hyer, Eric L. "Fresh Water Ecology Unit for Secondary Education Science Courses." Diss., CLICK HERE for online access, 2007. http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/ETD/image/etd1762.pdf.

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Holzmann, Gwetheldene Louise. "Lessons from the past: An historical analysis of science education (biology) curriculum reforms, 1950 to 1975." W&M ScholarWorks, 1994. https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd/1539618617.

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The purpose of this study was to determine what relationship existed between preservice science (biology) teacher education and the reforms in secondary school biology that occurred between 1950 and 1975. Research questions were generated which dealt with the collaboration of the various sectors of education as well as if the prospective teachers were being trained to teach the reform curricula through their college science and teacher education coursework.;Content analysis of textbooks was utilized to determine the content of textbooks on the secondary and higher education level. The secondary texts contrasted were Modern Biology and the BSCS Blue and Green series. A variety of textbooks were analyzed for higher education biology including those authored by Villee and Weisz. Teacher education methods textbooks which covered science education or biology teaching were also analyzed. Five topics were analyzed in each of the textbooks: the scientific method, classification, amphibians, heredity, and ecology. The evaluation instrument was adapted from the Curriculum Materials Analysis System for Science (Haussler & Pittman, 1973) and the Virginia Department of Education Science Textbook Evaluation Instrument.;It was hypothesized that the analyses would reveal that innovations and reforms in high school biology textbooks preceded reforms in higher education teacher education programs which would indicate that prospective teachers were not being taught the necessary skills, behaviors, or methods in their required coursework to adequately institute the reforms on the secondary level. It was also hypothesized that the analyses would reveal an inordinately long period of time before prospective teachers were being instructed in the methods necessary for them to function effectively in secondary classrooms with the reform curricula.;It was concluded that there was generally very little collaboration between the various sectors of education during 1950 and 1975. The first hypothesis was confirmed and the second hypothesis supported but not totally confirmed due to the lack of information on how textbooks were actually used in the teacher education classrooms. Further research is needed in this area.;Additional findings of the study indicate that textbooks from the recent past are difficult to locate and thus a significant portion of the history of education is disappearing.

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Hanks, Joseph H. "Alignment Between Secondary Biology Textbooks and Standards for Teaching English Learners: A Content Analysis." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2013. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/4174.

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The goal of the most recent science education reform movement in the U.S. is science literacy for all Americans. Science literacy among U.S. students remains low, however, as compared with students in other industrialized countries, and is lowest among English Language Learner (ELL) students. Although there are barriers to developing science literacy for all adolescent students, ELL students often experience additional barriers that make developing science literacy even more challenging without support. Because textbooks are often heavily relied upon by secondary science teachers, the opportunity for many ELLs to develop science literacy may depend upon the support for these students included in science textbooks. Many textbook publishers have included textual tools for teaching ELLs in the teacher's editions of science textbooks they claim will help teachers support the learning of ELLs in the ways that are recommended by national standards, which describe appropriate science content, pedagogy, and language supports. These standards, referred to in this study as ELL standards, include the Benchmarks for Science Literacy, the CREDE standards, the WIDA standards, and the TIMSS standards. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative content analysis was to determine how the textual tools for teaching ELLs found in three widely used secondary biology textbooks in the U.S. are aligned with the ELL standards. All textual tools were read, reread, and coded using the ELL standards as a priori coding categories. The results indicate that some of the textual tools in the biology textbooks align with the ELL standards. However, the frequency of alignment between the textual tools and the ELL standards is not high. Further, many of the instances of alignment between the textual tools and the ELL standards are implicit, rather than explicit, indicating that the alignment between them is weak. Finally, many of the textual tools that are aligned with the ELL standards are only aligned with one of the categories within a given standard and ignore other, important, categories. It is recommended that textbook publishers update the textual tools for teaching ELLs in future editions of their textbooks to make them more aligned with the ELL standards. It is further recommended that secondary science teachers be better prepared so they will not have to rely on the textual tools for teaching ELLs in their instruction.

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Gaytan, Candice Renee. ""Model-Based Reasoning is Not a Simple Thing"| Investigating Enactment of Modeling in Five High School Biology Classrooms." Thesis, University of California, Davis, 2017. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10602659.

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Modeling is an important scientific practice through which scientists generate, evaluate, and revise scientific knowledge, and it can be translated into science classrooms as a means for engaging students in authentic scientific practice. Much of the research investigating modeling in classrooms focuses on student learning, leaving a gap in understanding how teachers enact this important practice. This dissertation draws on data collected through a model-based curricular project to uncover instructional moves teachers made to enact modeling, to describe factors influencing enactment, and to discuss a framework for designing and enacting modeling lessons.

I framed my analysis and interpretation of data within the varying perceptions of modeling found in the science studies and science education literature. Largely, modeling is described to varying degrees as a means to engage students in sense-making or as a means to deliver content to students. This frame revealed how the instructional moves teachers used to enact modeling may have influenced its portrayal as a reasoning practice. I found that teachers’ responses to their students’ ideas or questions may have important consequences for students’ engagement in modeling, and thus, sense-making.

To investigate factors influencing the portrayal of modeling, I analyzed teacher interviews and writings for what they perceived affected instruction. My findings illustrate alignments and misalignments between what teachers perceive modeling to be and what they do through instruction. In particular, teachers valued providing their students with time to collaborate and to share their ideas, but when time was perceived as a constraint, instruction shifted towards delivering content. Additionally, teachers’ perceptions of students’ capacity to engage in modeling is also related to if and how they provided opportunities for students to make sense of phenomena.

The dissertation closes with a discussion of a framework for designing and enacting lessons for engaging students in modeling. I draw on examples from this study to provide context for how the framework can support teachers in engaging students in modeling. Altogether, this dissertation describes how teachers facilitate modeling and why varying enactments may be observed, filling a gap in researchers’ understanding of how teachers enact modeling in science classrooms.

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Li, Feng. "Evaluating High School Biology Modeling Instruction in South Florida: A Comparative Case Study." FIU Digital Commons, 2017. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3522.

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The dissertation, with a collected papers approach, focused on evaluating the implementation of MI curriculum in high school Biology I classes in south Florida. The dissertation included the development and validation of the Biology Identity and Persistence Survey (BIPS), the connection of instructors’ teaching practices with students’ biology identities, evolution identities, and career aspirations, and the connection of instructors’ teaching practice with students’ conceptual understanding in evolution. In the first part of the dissertation study, the BIPS was validated through expert review and student cognitive interviews for its face and content validity. Confirmatory factor analysis addressed the construct validity of the final version of the BIPS, after removing four problematic items. The Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest reliability analysis indicated that the BIPS was a reliable instrument in terms of its internal reliability and stability. In the second part of the dissertation study, the comparison between the MI and non-MI classes indicated that there was no detectable significant difference between the MI classes and non-MI classes in students’ development of biology identities and evolution identities, and shifts in career aspirations. Using the analysis of the MI and non-MI instructors’ teaching practices, it was suggested that the use of intentional lack of inquiry closure, seeding, small-group collaboration, whole-class discussion, and Socratic questioning might contribute to students’ biology/evolution identity development. In the third part of the dissertation study, the Evolution Concept Inventory was demonstrated as an invalid and unreliable research instrument. Qualitative analysis of instructors’ teaching practices suggested that interactions between MI instructional materials and MI pedagogical techniques, including student-centered teaching, small-group collaboration, student-student interaction, whole-class discussion, and Socratic questioning, might contribute to students’ gain of conceptual understanding in evolution. On the basis of the research findings, this dissertation provided suggestions for high school biology MI instructors and high school biology MI workshops.

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Kos, Agnieszka. "High school teachers' perspectives on effective approaches for teaching biology to students with special needs." ScholarWorks, 2010. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/720.

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The demands of national educational reforms require high school biology teachers to provide high quality instruction to students with and without special needs. The reforms, however, do not provide teachers with adequate teaching strategies to meet the needs of all students in the same context. The purpose of this grounded theory study was to understand high school biology teachers' perspectives, practices, and challenges in relation to teaching students with special needs. This approach was used to develop a substantive model for high school biology teachers who are challenged with teaching students with and without special needs. Data were collected via in-depth interviews with 15 high school teachers in a Midwestern school district. The data were analyzed using open coding, axial coding, and selective coding procedures in accordance with the grounded theory approach. Essential model components included skills and training for teachers, classroom management strategies, teaching strategies, and student skills. The emergent substantive theory indicated that that teacher preparation and acquired skills greatly influence the effectiveness of inclusion implementation. Key findings also indicated the importance of using of a variety of instructional strategies and classroom management strategies that address students' special needs and their learning styles. This study contributes to social change by providing a model for teaching students and effectively implementing inclusion in regular science classrooms. Following further study, this model may be used to support teacher professional development and improve teaching practices that in turn may improve science literacy supported by the national educational reforms.

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Cheng, Wai-mun Vivian. "Implementation of environmental education through the teaching of S4 - S5 biology, geography and history in Hong Kong secondary schools." [Hong Kong] : University of Hong Kong, 1994. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B13834307.

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Matoti, Sheila Nokuthula. "An investigation into some learning and teaching problems of biology in Transkei senior secondary schools." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001415.

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The aim of this study was to investigate some learning and teaching problems of biology in Transkei Senior Secondary schools. The research focussed mainly on Biochemistry. Biochemistry was treated in the context of biology as a whole to show its relevance to other sections of the syllabus. Questionnaires were administered to standard 10 pupils in 15 senior secondary schools selected randomly from the Central Region of Transkei. Further information on pupils' understanding of concepts taught in Biochemistry , was gained through use of concept tests and concept maps. Interviews were conducted with standard 9 and 10 biology teachers, Subject committee members, Examiners, Subject advisers, Lecturers from the University of Transkei and the Transkei Teachers' In-service College and pupils. Data obtained through the use of those research methods was analysed and discussed. Concept mapping as a teaching strategy was introduced to some standard 9 and 10 teachers who attended courses (biology) at The Transkei Teachers ' In-service College. Some suggestions and recommendations for the learning and teaching of biology were then made

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Salama, Mohamed A. A. "Student-teachers' competencies in skills needed for the practical work in biology in Egyptian secondary schools." Thesis, Keele University, 1988. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.280045.

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Chan, Ka-sing. "A study of the factors affecting the implementation of the teacher assessment scheme for advanced supplementary level biology in Hong Kong from the teachers' perspective." [Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong], 1994. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B13833558.

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Pillay, Paramasivan. "How can cooperative learning be developed to enhance the teaching of biology at secondary school level?" Thesis, Rhodes University, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003439.

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This research was undertaken by a group of practising teachers as a collaborative effort to develop a cooperative approach to the teaching of Biology at Secondary School level. The research focussed on Grade 10 learners at three different schools over a period of one full academic school-year. During this time, four complete cycles within an action research framework were completed and reflected upon. Learners were then surveyed by means of a questionnaire and follow-up interviews. The reflective sessions, together with the responses from the questionnaire and interviews, provided a wealth of information with regard to the development of a cooperative approach to teaching. The cooperative classroom is vastly different from the traditional one. Here, new roles are assumed by both teacher and learner. Learners are largely expected to take charge of their learning experience in the classroom. The teacher, while still responsible for facilitating this learning experience, delegates authority to the learners. It was the experience of the group that the relationship between teacher and learner, as well as between learner and learner, vastly improved in the cooperative class where the participants were more relaxed. Over time, learners became more accountable in terms of their work and learning. Learners’ self-esteem and self-confidence grew, and the majority of learners indicated that their understanding of the work improved. Furthermore, the cooperative structure encouraged and developed self-discipline in the learners. In the early stages of this research, the group did find certain behaviour to be inhibiting: excessive noise, laziness, too much tomfoolery, and absenteeism. These problems were easily addressed within the action research framework, and were nearly non-existent by the end of the research. The group also found that: (i) cooperative lessons required more time than traditional lessons, often at the expense (justifiably) of the syllabus, and that: (ii) cooperative lessons played a major role in reactivating learner interest towards the learning process both in and outside the classroom.

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Frans, Marian Kauna Nyanyukweni. "Understanding how grade 11 Biology teachers mediate learning of the topic on transpiration." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017338.

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This study emerged in response to the poor performance in Biology at my school. The Ministry of Education Biology (NSSCO) Examiners’ report (2011) for Paper 3 indicates that learners proved to have difficulties in designing experiments, failed to give a distinction between apparatus and the experiment. The 2012 Examiners’ report on transpiration also highlights that learners were not exposed to practical work. Furthermore, the 2012 report notes that teachers need to work on their learners’ drawing and spelling of terms. It is against this backdrop that a qualitative study was conducted at a school in Oshikoto, using a sample of two teachers. The study’s purpose was to investigate how grade 11 Biology teachers mediate learning of the topic on transpiration. Social Constructivism and Pedagogical Content Knowledge formed the framework used to analyse data gathered from document analysis, interviews and observations. The study findings were that teachers use locally available material for demonstration during practical work, elicit prior knowledge, use a chalkboard to summarise content to learners, and use a question and answer method as strategies in mediating learning on transpiration. In addition, the teachers use homework, scaffolding activities, group work, code-switching, feedback on activities, as well as the use of analogies. Despite efforts by participant teachers to mediate learning of transpiration, shortage of equipment for conducting practical work, poor English proficiency among teachers and learners, and little emphasis on graphing by the syllabus proved to be barriers to their efforts. This study thus recommends that in order to improve on teaching transpiration, teachers need to co-plan lessons, conduct practical work, code-switch during lessons, ensure effective assessment, and include lessons on graphing. Furthermore, teachers need continued training on how to teach transpiration.

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Sungur, Semra. "An implementation of problem based learning in high school biology courses." Phd thesis, Ankara : METU, 2004. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12604717/index.pdf.

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Lai, Man-kit. "Junior secondary pupils' learning in the biological concepts included in the CDC science (Forms I-III) syllabus 1986 and prerequisite for the CDC human biology (Secondary IV-V) syllabus 1987 of Hong Kong." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1988. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B18036569.

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Goff, Kevin David. "Validation of an Instrument for Assessing Conceptual Change with Respect to The Theory of Evolution By Secondary Biology Students." W&M ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd/1499449907.

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This pilot study evaluated the validity of a new quantitative, closed-response instrument for assessing student conceptual change regarding the theory of evolution. The instrument has two distinguishing design features. First, it is designed not only to gauge student mastery of the scientific model of evolution, but also to elicit a trio of deeply intuitive tendencies that are known to compromise many students’ understanding: the projection of intentional agency, teleological directionality, and immutable essences onto biological phenomena. Second, in addition to a section of conventional multiple choice questions, the instrument contains a series of items where students may simultaneously endorse both scientifically normative propositions and intuitively appealing yet unscientific propositions, without having to choose between them. These features allow for the hypothesized possibility that the three intuitions are partly innate, themselves products of cognitive evolution in our hominin ancestors, and thus may continue to inform students’ thinking even after instruction and conceptual change. The test was piloted with 340 high school students from diverse schools and communities. Confirmatory factor analysis and other statistical methods provided evidence that the instrument already has strong potential for validly distinguishing students who hold a correct scientific understanding from those who do not, but that revision and retesting are needed to render it valid for gauging students’ adherence to intuitive misconceptions. Ultimately the instrument holds promise as a tool for classroom intervention studies by conceptual change researchers, for diagnostic testing and data gathering by instructional leaders, and for provoking classroom dialogue and debate by science teachers.

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Cheng, Wai-mun Vivian, and 鄭慧敏. "Implementation of environmental education through the teaching of S4 -S5 biology, geography and history in Hong Kong secondary schools." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1994. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31957080.

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Hui, She-kwan, and 許書坤. "A study of the environmental education ideologies in the newly implemented Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE)biology and geography curricula and their expression in textbooks." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2004. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B3013769X.

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Allspaw, Kathleen M. "Secondary science classroom dissections forming policy by evaluating cognitive outcomes and exploring affective outcomes /." [Bloomington, Ind.] : Indiana University, 2008. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3344557.

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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, School of Education, 2008.
Title from home page (viewed on Oct. 5, 2009). Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-02, Section: A, page: 0517. Adviser: Charles Barman.

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Al-Shahrany, Mohammed S. "The Relationship of Selected Student, Teacher, and School Variables to Biology Achievement of Seniors in Secondary Schools in Saudi Arabia /." The Ohio State University, 1995. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487929230742066.

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Todd, Amber Nicole. "The Molecular Genetics Learning Progressions: Revisions and Refinements Based on Empirical Testing in Three 10th Grade Classrooms." Wright State University / OhioLINK, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1389527492.

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Scheidemantel, Debora Diane 1957. "Behavioral and natural history studies of the jumping spider Habronattus oregonensis and inquiry based secondary laboratory lesson development stemming from university research." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/278612.

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This study was conducted to determine behavior patterns of the jumping spider Habronattus oregonensis. Time budgets show spiders spend their time out and about, eating, interacting with other spiders, and in hidden behaviors with out and about behaviors dominating. Agonistic encounters occur in the field and were staged in the laboratory. Whether a spider keeps control of the area is determined differently for males than females. In male-male interactions, the size of the spider as measured by weight is important in winning a skirmish regardless of familiarity with an area (residency). For female-female agonistic interactions, however, residency does affect the outcome. In interactions between male-female pairs, the male readily courts the female. Mature virgin females readily accept a mate; other females do not. Finally, experiences from university research were used to develop lesson plans for student study at the secondary level in biology classrooms.

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Joseph-Orelus, Hermione. "Teachers Support for English Language Learners to Build Inquiry Skills in Online Biology Simulations." ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/6445.

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The population of English language learners (ELLs) is on the rise in the United States, but they are lagging behind English speaking students in several subject areas--including biology. Scholarly literature lacks information on how biology teachers use scaffolding strategies to support ELL students with inquiry skills during online simulations. The purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore how biology teachers support ELLs in learning biology, using biology simulations to promote inquiry learning. The conceptual framework for this study included the constructivist perspective regarding the zone of proximal development, Electronic Quality of Inquiry Protocol, and technology use in science instruction. The purposive sample for this study was 4 biology teachers from 2 high schools in large school districts in the southeastern region of the United States who taught ELL students using inquiry-based online simulations. The data sources were face to face interviews with teachers, scaffolding documents, and lesson plans. Data were coded and analyzed for common themes across within and across cases. Results indicated that although biology teachers believed that ELL students benefited from inquiry simulations because of the already incorporated visuals and their ability to interact and manipulate the program, they sometimes lacked technology experiences and struggled with English and literacy that may reduce the benefits of the simulation experiences. The results of this study have the potential to contribute to social change by providing insights that may increase the understanding of how biology teachers can support ELL students when using technology in the form of simulations to promote inquiry learning.

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Martinez, Mabell Jeannette. "Moving traditional teaching methods of advanced placement biology toward improving opportunity for students to develop understanding of scientific principles." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2006. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/2972.

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This project investigated the role of the advanced placement program in the classroom. The research suggested that implementation of inquiry-based methods in science classrooms, including advanced placement biology courses, would improve student understanding.

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Leung, Wai-ming, and 梁偉明. "A study of the implementation of the teacher assessment scheme in the sixth form biology curriculum of Hong Kong from the students'perspective." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1994. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31957274.

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Margiotta, Renato. "Global citizenship education in the biology classroom : an exploratory study in Scotland." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2018. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/9151/.

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In the United Kingdom and Europe, there are ongoing efforts to reform science education in order to provide students with an understanding that transcends the scientific knowledge itself and that is relevant to citizenship. This exploratory study investigated the opportunities and the constraints for teaching Evolutionary Biology (EB) in the context of Global Citizenship Education (GCE). The study focuses on secondary school education in Scotland, at the time of a major curricular reform. My specific interest in the educational system of Scotland stemmed from the fact that the Scottish National Curriculum, the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), encourages integrated interdisciplinary approaches to citizenship education, where biology is one component of a holistic citizenship curriculum and biology teachers are required to consider citizenship issues within their subject teaching. Evolution, in biology, is the general framework for understanding life and, at its base, is about the common ancestry of living beings. Therefore, EB is substantially the theory of Phylogenetic Trees. In addition, EB with Population Thinking in taxonomy provides arguments against the typologist assumptions in human classification, underpinning the biologisation of cultural identities. Through a document analysis and an empirical phenomenographic study, I explored the patterns in the interplay between teaching EB and GCE, within the compulsory Scottish secondary school science curriculum. The document analysis, which consisted in the analysis of official science education documents and biology textbooks, revealed that only microevolutionary concepts play a major role in the documents and in the textbooks. Macroevolution, human evolution, phylogeny and population thinking are omitted by the compulsory science specifications of the CfE and textbooks. However, the texts illustrating the EB specifications are open texts, in Eco’s taxonomy. Open texts are incomplete texts that can be freely interpreted and cooperatively generated by the readers. Therefore, teachers, with their knowledge and interests, can complete the “unsaid” and interpret creatively the biology specification. The phenomenographic inquiry involved twenty-one biology teachers from thirteen different Local Authorities of Scotland who participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. From the phenomenographic analysis of the transcripts of the interviews, three different ways of thinking and reporting about the role of teaching biology for the purpose to educate for global citizenship emerged. The first conception relates the biology syllabus to issues of social justice, the second to environmental issues and the third focuses on the individual development of students. This body of work provides insights into some of the issues associated with the problematic teaching of evolutionary biology with the aim to promote cosmopolitan values, in secondary school. Moreover, it adds to the research in global citizenship education, by providing evidence from the conceptions of biology teachers involved in the implementation of curricular innovation.

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Chan, Ka-sing, and 陳家聲. "A study of the factors affecting the implementation of the teacher assessment scheme for advanced supplementary level biology in HongKong from the teachers' perspective." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1994. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31957006.

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Scales, Jason A. "Assessment of teachers' ability to integrate science concepts into secondary agriculture programs." Diss., Columbia, Mo. : University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10355/4717.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007.
The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on February 29, 2008) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

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Tshiningayamwe, Sirkka Alina Nambashusan. "Implementation of environmental learning in the NSSC biology curriculum component: a case study of Namibia." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003446.

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In the context of ecological crisis and environmental deterioration, teaching about environmental issues and the preservation of the world’s environment has become increasingly important across the globe (Chi-chung Ko & Chi-kin Lee, 2003). Of the various subjects taught in secondary schools, Science is often perceived as one that can make a significant contribution to environmental education. It is in this light that the study has looked at how Grade 11 and 12 Biology teachers in the Namibian context implement Environmental Learning (EL). This study was constituted as a case study of two schools in Windhoek, in the Khomas region. The study investigated the implementation of EL in the Biology curriculum focusing on the constraints and enabling factors influencing the implementation. This study employed qualitative methods, specifically semi-structured interviews, classroom observations and document analysis in its investigation of EL implementation. Purposive sampling was done and piloting of interview and observation schedules was used to refine the schedules. Ethical issues were taken into consideration throughout the study. The key findings from the study are as follows: - Teachers’ knowledge and interest in environmental education influence how teachers facilitate EL; - There is a mismatch between EL theories and practice; - Teaching of EL is mainly informed by the syllabus and not other curriculum documents, - Current assessment policy and practice impact on EL; and - Possibilities exist for improving EL in Namibia’s Biology curriculum. These key findings have been used to make recommendations for the study which are as follows: - Strengthen the subject content and interest of teachers; - There should be a match between EL theories and practice; - Reorient curriculum documents and other learning support materials used for EL; - Change in assessment approaches; and - Translate constraints of EL into enablers. The study concludes by calling for further research into EL pedagogies. This can be used to improve EL implementation in the region where the study was situated.

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St, Clair Bryn Ellen. "Test-Enhanced Learning in Post-Secondary Biology Courses: The Effect of Cues and Incentives on High-Level Learning." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2021. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/8920.

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Cognitive scientists and psychology researchers have given growing attention to evidence of the testing effect, that is, the improvement of students' recall through memory-retrieval practice in the form of quizzes and exams. While laboratory experiments consistently show dramatic positive effects on learning through the testing effect, discipline-specific education researchers have sought to generalize these findings in real, instead of simulated classrooms. The objective of this dissertation was threefold: (1) To survey the current literature on the testing-effect as it applies to learning biology at the post-secondary level. In this review, I consider how further research on the testing effect may be useful for instructors' decisions regarding its use. (2) To describe findings from a quaÂ¬si-experimental design in a post-secondary biology class with low and high point incentives and measured student learning. Although exposure to exams predicted better learning, incentive level did not moderate this effect, an outcome that contradicted recent laboratory findings that higher incentives decreased student recall. (3) To describe findings from a study that compared student learning in conditions where cued exams were in place versus conditions in which they were absent. Student learning improved in the former condition relative to the latter. I discuss the implications of the results in all of these studies for further research and application.

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Phipps, Owen Dudley. "The use of a database to improve higher order thinking skills in secondary school biology: a case study." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003696.

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The knowledge explosion of the last decade has left education in schools far behind. The emphasis in schools must change if they are to prepare students for their future lives. Tertiary institutions as well as commerce and industry need people who have well-developed cognitive skills. A further requirement is that the school leaver must have skills pertaining to information processing. The skills that are required are those which have been labelled higher order thinking skills. The work of Piaget, Thomas and Bloom have led to a better understanding of what these skills actually are. Resnick sees these skills as being: nonalgorithmic; complex; yielding multiple solutions; involving nuanced judgements; involving the application of multiple criteria; involving uncertainty; involving self-regulation of the thinking process; imposing meaning and being effortful. How these can be taught and the implication of doing so are considered by the researcher. The outcome of this consideration is that higher order - thinking entails communication skills, reasoning, problem solving and self management. The study takes the form of an investigation of a particular case: whether a Biology field trip could be used as a source of information, which could be handled by a computer, so that higher order thinking skills could be acquired by students. Students were instructed in the use of a Database Management System called PARADOX. The students then went on an excursion to a Rocky Shore habitat to collect data about the biotic and abiotic factors pertaining to that ecosystem. The students worked in groups sorting data and entering it into the database. Once all the data had been entered the students developed hypotheses and queried the database to obtain evidence to substantiate or disprove their hypotheses. Whilst this was in progress the researcher obtained data by means of observational field notes, tape recordings, evoked documents and interviews. The qualitative data was then arranged into classes to see if it showed that the students were using any of the higher order thinking skills. The results showed that the students did use the listed higher order thinking skills whilst working on the database.

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Maro, Wadrine. "Design and evaluation of a professional development programme to support activity-based biology teaching and learning in Tanzanian secondary schools." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2013. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/350762/.

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This study aims to design, implement and evaluate a professional development programme for biology teachers in Tanzania. The proposed activity-based approach to teaching supported by the 5Es instructional sequence (adapted from Bybee et al., 2006) is new in the Tanzanian secondary schools context. Consequently, this study addresses the following research questions. 1) What are the characteristics of an effective professional development programme that adequately supports learning and teaching of biology in Tanzania? 2) How can a professional development programme be practically designed and implemented to enhance Tanzanian biology teachers’ pedagogical knowledge and skills? 3) What impact does this professional development programme have on teachers’ pedagogy and students’ learning of biology? The study included 675 students, 35 teachers, 7 student teachers, and 3 experts in the field of science education. A design-based research methodology involved both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods and analysis. Teachers’ reactions to the professional development workshop were positive. They were satisfied with the content and follow-up coaching activities. The new knowledge and skills helped teachers to support students through interaction with materials and discussion in small groups to acquire meaningful learning. Findings of classroom observations, teacher interviews, student evaluation questionnaires, and focus group discussions showed that the adoption of the newly developed excitement stage in the 5Es instructional sequence was useful and relevant to teachers’ instructional approaches. It supported them to move away from overly didactic practices to activity-based and student-centred teaching and learning approaches. Student focus group discussions indicated positive opinions about their teachers’ adoption of the new approaches. Students reported differences from their regular classes, which served to enhance better understanding of the taught concepts. These positive changes included, more student involvement in the lesson activities and teachers being more supportive and open to questions. This study has confirmed findings from previous research about the important role of curriculum materials as a component of teachers' professional development experience. In addition, findings of the study demonstrated that the 5Es instructional sequence provided teachers and students with opportunities to practice effective science teaching and learning approaches. It is hoped that this approach is adopted more widely in Tanzanian secondary schools, so that future students may experience success and be inspired to continue their studies of science.

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Daltro, Katia Figueirôa. "A proposta do currículo escolar para o ensino de biologia nos centros experimentais de Aracaju-SE." Universidade Federal de Sergipe, 2015. http://ri.ufs.br:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/5169.

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This dissertation analyzes the proposed curriculum of Biology teaching in two experimental Aracaju UP Centers, State College Atheneu Sergipense and Experimental Minister Marco Maciel Center. The methodological approach used in carrying out this research presented here was characterized by qualitative approach. The qualitative look, knowledge is seen in motion. Thus, for data collection were employed: interviews (semi-structured), documents (Curriculum Reference, annual planning, curricular and pedagogical political project organization), observations and questionnaires. We use to analyze theoretical concepts of scholars curriculum: Sacristan (1998), Goodson (1995), Moreira (1991, 2001, 2007), Macedo (2006), Michael Apple (2000); full education and the teaching of Biology use: Ghiraldelli (1992), Santos (2010), Gonçalves (2005), Lamb (2001), Texeira (1994), Bittencourt (2003), Krasilchick (2008). It was evident that there was a real change, which can be seen today, and that construction of the curriculum for Biology discipline had a democratic participation in two Experimental Centers of Aracaju. Finally, we can say that the change that occurred in the construction of Experimental Center of Aracaju was coming from an innovative curriculum, even if initially characterized in real curriculum and subsequently developed by a formal curriculum.
Esta dissertação faz uma análise da proposta curricular do Ensino de Biologia em dois Centros Experimentais de Aracaju-SE, Colégio Estadual Atheneu Sergipense e Centro Experimental Ministro Marco Maciel. A abordagem metodológica utilizada para concretizar essa pesquisa aqui apresentada caracterizou-se pelo enfoque qualitativo. No olhar qualitativo, o conhecimento é visto num movimento. Deste modo, para coletas de dados foram empregados: entrevistas (semiestruturadas), documentos (Currículo Referencial, planejamentos anuais, projeto político pedagógico e organização curricular), observações e questionários. Utilizamos para anáise, concepções teóricas de estudiosos em currículo: Sacristan (1998), Goodson, (1995), Moreira (1991, 2001, 2007), Macedo (2006), Michael Apple (2000); em educação integral e o ensino de Biologia utilizamos: Ghiraldelli (1992), Santos (2010), Gonçalves (2005), Cordeiro (2001), Texeira (1994), Bittencourt (2003), Krasilchick (2008). Evidenciou-se que existiu uma mudança concreta, a qual pode ser observada atualmente, e que a construção da matriz curricular para disciplina Biologia teve uma participação democrática em dois Centros Experimentais de Aracaju. Por fim, podemos afirmar que a mudança que ocorreu na construção dos Centros Experimentais de Aracaju-SE foi procedente de um currículo inovador, mesmo que inicialmente, caracterizou-se em currículo real e, posteriormente, desenvolvido por um currículo formal.

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Wilder, Michael Gregg. "Improving Hypothesis Testing Skills: Evaluating a General Purpose Classroom Exercise with Biology Students in Grade 9." PDXScholar, 2011. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/427.

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There is an increased emphasis on inquiry in national and Oregon state high school science standards. As hypothesis testing is a key component of these new standards, instructors need effective strategies to improve students' hypothesis testing skills. Recent research suggests that classroom exercises may prove useful. A general purpose classroom activity called the thought experiment is proposed. The effectiveness of 7 hours of instruction using this exercise was measured in an introductory biology course, using a quasi-experimental contrast group design. An instrument for measuring hypothesis testing skill is also proposed. Treatment (n=18) and control (n=10) sections drawn from preexisting high school classes were pre- and post-assessed using the proposed Multiple Choice Assessment of Deductive Reasoning. Both groups were also post-assessed by individually completing a written, short-answer format hypothesis testing exercise. Treatment section mean posttest scores on contextualized, multiple choice problem sets were significantly higher than those of the control section. Mean posttest scores did not significantly differ between sections on abstract deductive logic problems or the short answer format hypothesis testing exercise.

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Williams, Stephen Michael. "College of Education: A guide to researching the animal kingdom on the Internet." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2004. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/2690.

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The purpose of this project was to develop a Web site that would facilitate students' use of the Internet to research topics relating to the study of biology. This Web site serves as a bridge to link classroom topics to real world scientific information and research available on the Internet. Methods of preventing plagiarism and focusing Internet research were incorporated into the overall Web site design.

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Chan, Sing-fai, and 陳星輝. "A study of collaborative learning in biology." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1998. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31959982.

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Lai, Man-kit, and 黎文傑. "Junior secondary pupils' learning in the biological concepts included in the CDC science (Forms I-III) syllabus 1986 and prerequisite forthe CDC human biology (Secondary IV-V) syllabus 1987 of Hong Kong." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1988. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31955794.

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Grillo, Kelly J. "An investigation of the effects of using digital flash cards to increase biology vocabulary knowledge in high school students with learning disabilities." Doctoral diss., University of Central Florida, 2011. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ETD/id/4907.

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The field of science education, specifically biology, is becoming more challenging due to richer and more rigorous content demands. Along with new demands is the emergence of National Common Core Standards and End of Course Exams. Despite these changes, one factor remains consistent: As content knowledge increases, language demands also increase. For students with learning disabilities (LD), specifically those with language-based disabilities, the increasing vocabulary demand can lead to failure due not to a lack of understanding biology but the vocabulary associated with the content. In an attempt to impact high school students with learning disabilities'success in biology, a vocabulary intervention was investigated. Research suggests as more and more content is compressed into science courses, teachers are looking toward technology to assist with vocabulary mastery. The current research study examined the effects of a digital flash card intervention, Study Stack, versus a paper flash card intervention in biology for students with LD by measuring students'word knowledge and overall biology course achievement. Findings from repeated measures ANOVA showed a statistically significant increase on both the vocabulary assessment as well as the course grades in biology over time. However, the test of between effects considering card type yielded no differential change on vocabulary assessment and course grades in biology. Based on qualitative data, students interviewed liked the tool and found it to be helpful in learning biology terminology.
ID: 030423499; System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader.; Mode of access: World Wide Web.; Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Central Florida, 2011.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 212-221).
Ph.D.
Doctorate
Education

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Casey, Cheryl. "Computer-Based Instruction as a Form of Differentiated Instruction in a Traditional, Teacher-led, Low-Income, High School Biology Classroom." PDXScholar, 2018. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/4437.

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In 2015 the U.S. continues to struggle with academic achievement in public schools. Average test scores from 15 year olds taking the Program for International Student Assessment placed the U.S. as 38th out of 71 countries (Drew Devlin, 2017). It is common to discuss elimination of the achievement gap as the single most effective way to improve the U.S.'s mediocre standing among the highest scoring countries in the world in primary and secondary student test scores (McGhee,2004; Flemming 2012). In the broadest sense of the term the "achievement gap" refers to the difference in academic success between different groups of students. It is often used to describe the lower performance of underprivileged student populations (National Education Association, 2004). Attempts to understand why this GAP exists and how educators may narrow such GAPs, researchers have identified both large class size and lack of personalized instruction as two conditions that commonly accompany lower academic achieving student populations (Lee and Buxton, 2008). Although there is a wealth of literature attempting to assess the effect of class size, few studies have defined small and large class sizes. In her research, Sarah Leahy (2006) defines a small class as one containing between 13 and 17 students and a regular class as one containing between 22 and 25. For the purposes of this research, a large classroom is defined as one with over 25 students. In theory, computer-based instruction (CBI) offers great potential to expand on the concept of personalized instruction. However, there is very little research available that describes how this tool can be used to effectively enhance the classroom learning process. This study examines the impact of providing computer-based instruction (CBI) or teacher-led instruction on students of various achievement levels enrolled in a traditional, high school biology classroom. The high school in which this research as conducted is a Title One (low income) identified school. 111 from four sections of freshman high school biology, were randomly divided into two learning groups per section. Both groups in each section were taught one 50-minute lesson on cellular biology. One group received the lesson from CBI while the other group from teacher-led instruction. The impact on learning was measured by the change in pre- and post-test scores. All students in each section received the same lesson content which was provided in the same classroom concurrently. Data from 82 students that returned signed parental consent forms and took the pre-test on day one, the lesson on day two, and the post-test on day three, were analyzed in this study. Results: The twenty students ranked as high academic achievers scored the highest correct answers on pre- and post-tests (mean 7.1 and 9.4 respectively). Improvement in test scores, measured as mean number of additional correct answers on the post-test, for the high achievers was equal whether they received CBI or teacher-led instruction (+1.72 and +1.75 respectively). Twenty-seven middle ranked academic achieving students also showed a statistically equal degree of improvement from each instructional platform. However, middle students that scored the highest pre-test scores also produced the highest improvement from CBI. The thirty-five low academic achieving students produced the highest improvement in test scores overall from teacher-led instruction and produced a mean negative change in post-test scores from CBI (mean +2.13 and -.68 respectively). Findings from this study suggest that in a classroom setting, higher academic achieving students will learn equally well from CBI or from a teacher while lower achievers benefit more from small group, teacher-led instruction.

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Keller, Brenda J. (Brenda Jo) 1942. "Effect of Three Different Types of High School Class Schedules (Traditional, Rotating Block, and Accelerated Block) on High School Biology Achievement and on Differences in Science Learning Environments." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1997. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278645/.

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This study analyzes the effect of three different high school scheduling options on the delivery of biology instruction, on student achievement, and on student perceptions of their instructional activities. Participants were biology students and teachers from twelve high schools in a north Texas urban school district of 76,000. Block classes had 11 to 18 percent less instructional time than traditional classes. Texas Biology I End-of-Course Examination achievement results for 3,195 students along with student and teacher surveys provided information on instructional activities, attitudes, and individualization. Using an analysis of variance at a j i< .01 the following results were found; student achievement was significantly different for each of the scheduled comparisons groups, test score means were not statistically significant between the scheduled comparison groups for different ethnic groups, economically disadvantaged students, and magnet students. No significant differences were found between the science learning activity index for each of the scheduled groups. Student response data when disaggregrated and reaggregrated into program groups found a statistically significant higher index of science activity at a p. < .01 for magnet students when compared to both the regular and honor students. Regular program students had a significantly higher index of individualization than honors program students. Accelerated and rotating block classes were found to hold a significantly more positive attitude about their science learning conditions than did the traditional students. These data suggest that during the first two years of block scheduling, the initial impact of block scheduling, where total time for science is reduced, results in lower student achievement scores when compared to traditionally scheduled classes. Yet, block scheduled student attitudes and perceptions about science learning are significantly more positive than the traditionally scheduled students.

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Francis, Lorien Young. "A High School Biology Teacher's Development Through a New Teaching Assignment Coupled with Teacher-Led Professional Development." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2016. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/6469.

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This self-study examined the learning that emerged from a change in teaching assignment coupled with self-initiated, teacher-led professional development in order to understand a high school science teacher's development as a teacher. The two participants in the study were the teacher/researcher, an experienced high school biology teacher who was taking up a new assignment teaching biotechnology, an advanced science course; and a first-year teacher assigned to teach biotechnology, who served as collaborator in the professional development and critical friend in the study. In order to uncover the teacher/researcher's learning and thinking, self-study of teaching practice methodology most clearly met the demands of the study. Data emerged from three research conversations and included transcripts of the conversations, artifacts from the participants' practices, notes from meetings, and memos. Data were analyzed using constant comparative methods and the understandings generated are grounded in the data. The study reveals shifts in teacher identity as the expert teacher takes up novice roles, the challenges encountered when teacher knowledge is insufficient for the teaching task, and the experienced teacher's need to return to a place of expertise when faced with a new teaching context. The study finds that (a) teacher identity shifts and develops in new teaching contexts, and teaching expertise facilitates expert identity development in such contexts; (b) expert teacher knowledge mediates novice-ness when experiencing new teaching contexts such as new teaching assignments; and (c) teacher-led professional development is a viable model for professional development experiences and can lead to increased teacher knowledge. The author suggests that (a) teachers are capable of determining what they need to learn and how they might best learn it in a professional development setting; (b) teachers' specific contexts should be honored when designing professional development, which should be practice-centered, and special attention should be given to developing specific subject matter knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, and science knowledge for teaching; and (c) capable others should be included in collaborative professional development teams.

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Mitchell, Adam James. "Assessing Scientific Inquiry: Teacher Beliefs and Practices." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2010. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/2521.

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Science education reform movements have long urged the use of inquiry methods in all science instruction. More recently, standards and accountability reform efforts have emphasized measuring and improving student science achievement. Researchers have questioned the alignment and balance between these reforms (Lane, 2004; Yeh, 2001). This study addresses issues faced by secondary science teachers as they simultaneously meet the goals of these reform movements. Mixed methods were used to answer the questions: 1) Can a teacher's beliefs and practices regarding inquiry teaching methods be correlated with his/her assessment practices?; 2) What item types are most commonly employed by teachers that use an inquiry pedagogy?; and 3) What assessment strategies do teachers describe to assess scientific inquiry? Secondary science teachers, mostly from one western state, responded to a survey (N = 83) and provided a teacher-made classroom assessment (n = 30). Survey responses were used to assign a teacher inquiry score based on described frequency of pedagogical practices supporting or detracting from an inquiry focus. A rubric based on cognitive complexity was used to determine a numeric value for each test item with the sum of item scores providing an overall assessment score. Using regression analysis and Pearson's correlation this study found a moderate correlation (r = 0.0447, p = 0.0133) between teacher inquiry scores and assessment scores. A modest correlation was also established between teacher inquiry levels (high, medium, and low categories assigned using cut scores) and overall assessment scores using an ANOVA (DF=2, p = 0.0262) and Tukey-Kramer pairwise analysis (low to medium p = 0.046; low to high p = 0.057). Correlations indicate that teachers are able to simultaneously focus on inquiry in pedagogical and assessment practices. Cognitively complex items used by teachers with an inquiry focus measure the same cognitive skills as scientific inquiry. Survey responses to open-ended questions provided additional qualitative data supporting the study's findings. Respondents reported challenges in creating assessments that measure student scientific inquiry competency, but also noted that labs, observation and questioning, and performance assessments are useful in measuring inquiry skills.

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Garza, Federico (Federico Angel). "The Effect of the Use of Laser Video Disc on Achievement, Attitude, and Confidence of High School Biology Students." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1994. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278506/.

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The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of level III video disc instruction on high school biology students. There were three areas studied: students' achievement in biology, students' attitude toward biology, and confidence. The experimental group consisted of 70 biology students. The control group also consisted of 70 biology students. The teacher of the experimental group used level in video disc instruction to teach about invertebrates, vertebrates, human systems, and plants throughout the semester. The teachers of the control group taught the same topics during the same period using the traditional lecture method and without level III video disc instruction. Students took the Biology Achievement Test, the Purdue Master Attitude Scale, and the Confidence in Learning Inventory before and after the treatment period. A t-test on the pretest scores of the experimental group and the control group showed no significant difference between the two groups. The experimental group also took the Technology Preference Survey after the treatment period.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Biology Education, Secondary'

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