A Study on the Understanding and Assessment of the Polysemic Gene Concept

• Main Author: 王敏男
• Other Authors: 黃台珠 博士
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/03841384569085388193

博士 === 高雄師範大學 === 科學教育研究所 === 98 === Focusing on the polysemy of gene concepts, this study explores high school students’ understanding of gene concepts, the application and integration of various gene concepts and thereby constructs an assessment framework that may be helpful for both teachers and students. In the study, 1551 junior high school students and 1262 senior high school students from Kaohsiung City were chosen by means of purposive sampling and given the Gene Concept Assessment Questionnaire. In addition, 36 senior high students on the third grade, who had completed their high school genetics courses, were given semi-structured interviews and were asked to draw a concept map for gene concepts. The main conclusions of this study are as follows. I.In terms of the understanding of gene concepts, senior high school students performed better than their junior high counterparts. For senior high, students on the third grade did better than those on the first and second grades. For junior high, however, no significant differences were observed among students of different grades. II.Various gene concepts are arranged in order of comprehension difficulty they pose for students, starting from the least difficult one. 1.Gene concept classification adapted from Falk (1986): instrumental gene, material gene, expressing gene, and regulative gene. 2.Gene concept classification based on ontology: process versus matter. 3.Gene concept classification based on genetics: tranditional genetics versus modern genetics. III.The assessment framework involves: 1.Concepts diversity: concepts richness and concepts evenness 2.Concept application ability 3.Summary index IV.Students process new gene concepts through assimilation and accommodation. V.In solving a problem, students may choose particular gene concepts out of various considerations.