Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, Volume 9, Issue 2, Article 8 (Dec., 2008) Özlem KORAY, Arzu PRESLEY, Mustafa Serdar KÖKSAL & Muhammet ÖZDEMIR Enhancing problem-solving skills of pre-service elementary school teachers through problem-based learning Contents Next

Enhancing problem-solving skills of pre-service elementary school teachers through problem-based learning

 

Özlem KORAY¹, Arzu PRESLEY¹, Mustafa Serdar KÖKSAL¹, Muhammet ÖZDEMİR²

¹Karaelmas University, Science Education Department, 67300, Zonguldak-Turkey
²Gazi University, Elementary Education Department, 67300, Ankara-Turkey

Email: bioeducator@gmail.com

Received 16 Oct., 2008
Revised 19 Dec., 2008

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Contents

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Subjects
• Instruments
• Context
• Procedure
• Data Analysis
• Results and Discussion
• Conclusion
• References

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Abstract

The purpose of this research is to enhance pre-service teachers’ problem-solving skills by giving them opportunity to understand the problem solving process. The study, using an experimental approach, was conducted with 85 pre-service elementary school teachers. The experimental group experienced problem based learning (PBL), while the control group experienced traditional instruction (TI) in their science instruction course. Independent t-test and content analysis were used to analyse the quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative results, supported by the qualitative research, revealed that the problem solving skills of the pre-service elementary school teachers experiencing PBL were increased more than those experiencing TI.

Key words: pre-service elementary school teacher education, problem-based learning, problem solving skills