THE EFFECT OF CONSTRUCTIVIST APPROACH IN CHEMISTRY EDUCATION ON STUDENTSʹ HIGHER ORDER COGNITIVE SKILLS

The main purpose of this study is to compare the effect of the constructivist approach with traditional teaching method in the acid-base concept on the students higher order cognitive skills and investigate the effect of the teaching method on the studentsʹ attitudes toward science education as well as the effect of the gender difference on studentsʹ understanding of acid-base concept. The present study was conducted with 300 students which attend eight class. The control group received instruction based on the traditional instruction method whereas the experimental group was instructed according to the 5E learning method. In order to determine the existing knowledge level of the students, Acid-Base Knowledge Test (ABKT), Science Process Skill Test and Logical Thinking Skill Test were administered to all groups as a pre test. The Acid-Base Achievement Test (ABAT) and Attitude Scale toward Science Education(ASS) were administered to all groups as a pre and post test. The results indicated that 5E learning model was more influential on studentsʹ higher order cognitive skills and induced more positive attitudes toward science education as a school subject.