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Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, Volume 8, Issue 2, Article 1 (Dec., 2007)
Yılmaz KARA and Selami YESILYURT
Assessing the effects of tutorial and edutainment software programs on students’ achievements, misconceptions and attitudes towards biology
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Assessing the effects of tutorial and edutainment software programs on students’ achievements, misconceptions and attitudes towards biology
Yılmaz KARA1 and Selami YESILYURT2
1. Atatürk University, Bayburt Education Faculty, Department of Science Education, 69000, Bayburt-Turkey.
2. Atatürk University, Kazım Karabekir Education Faculty, Department of Secondary Science and Mathematics Education, 25240, Erzurum-Turkey.
Email: 1. yilmazkaankara@yahoo.com
Received 14 June, 2007
Revised 26 Dec., 2007
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of tutorial and edutainment software programs related to ‘‘genetic concepts’’ topic on student achievements, misconceptions and attitudes. An experimental research design including the genetic concepts achievement test (GAT), the genetic concept test (GCT) and biology attitude scale (BAS) was applied at the beginning and at the end of the research. After the treatment, general achievement in GAT increased in favor of experimental groups. It was also noticed that using edutainment software programs significantly changed students’ attitudes towards biology. However, only tutorial design software program had the positive effect to the awareness of students’ understandings to the concepts gene, DNA, nucleus, chromosome, allele, genetic information, and genetic code. The current study also revealed that there were still some misconceptions in the experimental groups even after the treatment.
Key words: Computer assisted instruction, Instructional software, Evaluation of educational technology, Secondary education
