An Analysis on the Relationship between Cognitive Levels and Science Inquiry Skills in High School Students

고등학생의인지수준과 과학탐구 능력과의 관계 분석

  • 우종옥 (한국교원대학교 지구과학교육과) ;
  • 김종일 (한국교원대학교 지구과학교육과)
  • Published : 1993.08.30

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify concretely how to improve inquiry learning. To put the purpose in detail : 1) to define the inquiry skills 2) to select the factors of inquiry skills appropriate to the content of Science I (earth science) textbook 3) to develop items which consist of experimental inquiry and concept inquiry in due proportion, to evalute inquiry skills 4) to analyze the relationship between high school students' cognitive levels and the achievement of science inquiry skills. To achieve these objectives, the investigator sampled 558 students in eleventh grade, living in Seoul, Chung-Ju and Kwang-Ju, and evaluated their cognitive levels and the achievement of science inquiry skills. The results of this study showed that the cognitive levels of students were lower than those identified in Piaget's work and that the achievement of science inquiry skills were low also. It may be thought that one of most important reasons to bring about those results is lacking in adaptation capability of science inquiry items and inquiry learning. So, it can be recommended as a way to heighten cognitive levels to make inquiry learning using the textbook content. In conclusion, the investigator make suggestions as follows : 1) to give inquiry learning which consist of experimental inquiry and concept inquiry in due proportion 2) to develop inquiry items to include content for evaluating inquiry learning, and test items for psycho-motor areas 3) to publish textbooks which motivate students' inquiry activities and develop their creative thinking, considering students' cognitive levels and inquiry skills.

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