Improvement of chemistry II laboratory activities of science teacher candidates based on constructivist laboratory approach and science process skills

The purpose of this study is to develop a laboratory guide including experimental activities based on constructivist approach and science process skills for Generel Chemistry Laboratory course and examine the effects of the activities on students' laboratory achievement. Moreover, difficulties, that may be faced through the activities, have been tried to examined. The research has been administered as quasi-experimental design with pre-post test control groups. A total of 69 first grade students in the Elementary Science Education department of Kastamonu University were participated in the study. General Chemistry II Laboratory course have continued with 36 students on experimental group who made experimental activities based on constructivist approach and science process skills while 33 students in control group have done activities in a style of information verification with a cook book designed laboratory guide. Research data were collected with the General Chemistry Laboratory Achievement Test developed by the researcher. The achievement test was administered to control and experimental groups before and after the treatment as pre-post test and quantitative data was analyzed with SPSS statistics software. The results of the study showed that developed laboratory activities are capable of enhancing science process skills. Moreover it is identified that the activities are applicable and there exist a significant difference about academic achievement between experimental group and control group if favor of experimental group.