مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - COMPARISON OF TWO DIFFERENT CHEMISTRY INSTRUCTION GIVEN IN STATE SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE PREPARATORY COURSES

Abstract :

The purpose of this study was to compare the chemistry teaching in schools and preparatory courses for university entrance examination. The questionnaire with 15 items based on experts’ views and literature knowledge was applied to 168 students enrolled in both schools and preparatory courses in Malatya. Besides this, interviews were conducted to 5 chemistry teachers from schools and another 5 chemistry teachers from courses and these teachers’ lessons were observed during in-class activities. The data were collected by the way of interviews, observations and the questionnaire. The aim of school chemistry education is to give basic chemistry culture and emphasize the relation between chemistry and daily-life for understanding and interpreting scientific or technological development. On the other hand, the aim of courses is to supply for school education and preparing students for exams. In the schools, the laboratory activities making chemistry concrete and easily applicable components to our daily lives are insufficient today. In the courses, the students don’t have the basic logic of chemistry, but, memorize some question form for exams. The lessons in the courses usually have question-based chemistry curriculum. Briefly, schools and courses in our education system, don’t have real function for chemistry education. They also do not complete and support each other.