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investigation of the effect of gender, cognitive level, and attitude of seventh-grade science students on an identification of key variables task using an expert system
Title
An investigation of the effect of gender, cognitive level, and attitude of seventh-grade science students on an identification of key variables task using an expert system.
Creator
Schmidt, Diane., Florida Atlantic University, Voss, Stephen
Abstract/Description
Problem. The study was designed to investigate the relationship of gender, cognitive level, and attitude with mastery of weather vocabulary and concepts, development of weather prediction skills and concepts, frequency of variables manipulated per trial using an expert system, and difference in attitude (pre and post treatment). These variables represent factors which may have importance in science instruction. Procedures. The sample included 83 7th grade students enrolled in general science...
Show moreProblem. The study was designed to investigate the relationship of gender, cognitive level, and attitude with mastery of weather vocabulary and concepts, development of weather prediction skills and concepts, frequency of variables manipulated per trial using an expert system, and difference in attitude (pre and post treatment). These variables represent factors which may have importance in science instruction. Procedures. The sample included 83 7th grade students enrolled in general science courses in a private school in an urban area. Assessment instruments included Test of Logical Thinking, Student Appraisal Inventory, Textbook Test, Prediction Test, and frequency of variables manipulated per trial while using the expert system, Weather Prediction. A record of grouping preferences while using the expert system and an opinion survey were employed. Findings and conclusions. (1) None of the independent variables (gender, cognitive level, or attitude) had a statistically significant correlation with the variables under study. (2) The analysis of variance produced no statistically significant relationship for mastery of weather vocabulary and concepts or mastery of weather prediction skills and concepts with the independent variables. Nor was there a significant relationship between difference in attitude and gender or cognitive level. (3) For this small sample, the interaction of gender, cognitive level and attitude did seem to have an effect on frequency of variables manipulated. High cognitive level females with low attitudes were the most methodical and low cognitive level males with high attitudes were the most random in their approach. This was a weak conclusion based on some unequal and small cell sizes. (4) An expert system computer program was found to be a useful tool in studying student manipulation of variables. Recommendations. (1) Recommendations for further study include: investigation into: (a) the effect of student practice on multivariate problems, (b) the effect of personality factors on student manipulation of variables, (c) the order and direction of change of frequency of variables manipulated by students, (d) the frequency of variables manipulated per trial by a larger number of subjects or different aged subjects. (2) Recommendations for curriculum planning, classroom management using computer programs, and for computer program development are also included.
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Date Issued
1991
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12275
Subject Headings
Science--Computer-assisted instruction, Science--Study and teaching--Data processing
Format
Document (PDF)
INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE VARIOUS CHARACTERISTICS OF SELECTED COLLEGE TEACHERS AND THE TEACHING METHODS THEY EMPLOY IN THE CLASSROOM
Title
AN INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE VARIOUS CHARACTERISTICS OF SELECTED COLLEGE TEACHERS AND THE TEACHING METHODS THEY EMPLOY IN THE CLASSROOM.
Creator
BRAUNSTEIN, SUSAN TABOR, Florida Atlantic University, Voss, Stephen
Abstract/Description
Introduction. Students and faculty agree that there is a great need to improve teaching at the community college. Although students learn in a variety of styles, many teachers rely on just a few teaching methods. This over-reliance on too few methods is a serious problem. Purpose of the Study. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between an instructor's educational preparation and experience and the choice of instructional methods employed in the classroom. Procedures....
Show moreIntroduction. Students and faculty agree that there is a great need to improve teaching at the community college. Although students learn in a variety of styles, many teachers rely on just a few teaching methods. This over-reliance on too few methods is a serious problem. Purpose of the Study. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between an instructor's educational preparation and experience and the choice of instructional methods employed in the classroom. Procedures. The data were collected by direct observation, and the instrument was administered by one observer. Both format and procedure were identical for all observations. The population observed was the entire teacing staff at Florida Institute of Technology, Jensen Beach Campus. Factors considered for correlation with method use included vocational or academic teaching area, part-time or full-time status, exposure to professional education courses, and exposure to methodology workshops. Findings of the Study. The research data indicated that the mean number of methods employed by vocational instructors was higher than the number employed by academic instructors, and part-time instructors had a higher mean number of methods than full-time, although neither gain was statistically significant. Exposure to professional education courses seemed to have no effect on the number of methods employed as both those with and those without such courses employed the same number of methods. The only factor which did yield a statistically significant difference in means was exposure to methodology workshops. The research data indicated that teachers believed training in method and student learning style had little influence on method choice. Factors which were found to be important were course content, preferred teaching style, and class size. Recommendations. It was recommended that further studies should be undertaken to clarify the importance of training in methodology as a determining factor in method choice; to establish what instructors know about student learning styles; to provide a knowledge base on actual behavior of part-time instructors; and to determine the precise nature of those workshops which have proven, by direct independent observation, to have a positive correlation with the number of methods employed.
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Date Issued
1982
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/11794
Subject Headings
Teaching, Community college teachers
Format
Document (PDF)