A follow-up Study of the level of Development of Scientific Concepts and beliefs among student teachers in the Science Department of the Center for Educational Qualification and Development - Taiz University

Abstract

The study aims to identify the extent to which the teachers of science preparation program at the Rehabilitation and Educational Development Center at Taiz University has contributed to the development of scientific concepts and beliefs among the students of this program. This is done by following a sample of 20 male and female students over two academic years. To achieve this goal, the researcher has prepared two tools: an achievement test for six scientific concepts necessary for teaching basic stage science: (light, properties of matter, acids and bases, chemical reactions, cell and heredity, and vital sciences in humans and animals). The scientific beliefs scale included four areas: (the value of science, the nature of scientific knowledge, the relationship between science and religion, and the ethics of those working in science). After ensuring the validity of each tool to achieve the purpose for which it was prepared, it was applied to the study sample in three stages: the first before starting the study of the program, the second at the end of the first year of studying the program, and the third at the end of the second year of studying the program. The collected data were then analyzed using means, standard deviations, percentages and one-way analysis of variance. The results have showed that there were statistically significant differences between the performance of the study sample in the three stages of application, and each time these differences were in favor of their performance at higher level, which indicates a growth in the scientific concepts and beliefs of the sample members as they advanced in their level of study.