The Effect Of Conceptual Change Texts On Removing Students’ Alternative Conceptions About Celestial Bodies

The effect of conceptual change texts on removing alternative concept related to various science concepts and teaching science are proved in the literature. Also it is known that students have various alternative concepts about celestial bodies. But the effect of conceptual change texts has not been known on removing alternative conceptions about celestial bodies at the level of the elementary school students. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of conceptual change texts on removing students’ alternative conceptions about celestial bodies. The sample comprised of 22 elementary 7th grade students who studied at boarding area elementary school, 2012-2013 academic years. Pre-experimental research design was used in this study. A questionnaire with 12 concept cartoons was used to collect data. In this study, the instructional material based on 5E model was enriched with conceptual change texts and used to sample of study. The test of concept cartoons were applied to pre-test before teaching with conceptual change texts and post-test after teaching with conceptual change texts. Collecting pre and post tests’ data were analyzed with dependent t-test. The results showed that the teaching with conceptual change texts has differentiated the conceptual structures in a desired way and removed the most of the students’ alternative conceptions about celestial bodies. In line with these results, are suggested that teachers should be informed about the use of conceptual change texts in the teaching process and teaching materials supplemented with the conceptual change texts should be used in the different science subjects.