Prospective science teachers level of understanding of some basic chemical concepts and their misconceptions

SUMMARY Prospective Science Teachers' Level of Understanding of Some Basic Chemical Concepts and Their Misconceptions In the international science education literature, it has been reported that primary school teachers have not grasped enough knowledge of basic science concepts, and have held misconceptions about them. To determine and remedy these misconceptions, it is important that primary school teachers should firstly have sound understanding of these basic concepts. The purpose of this study is to determine prospective science teachers' levels of understanding and misconceptions about some basic chemical concepts (physical and chemical change, particulate structure of matter, dissolving, the structure of an atom, boiling, condensation, evaporation, element-compound-mixed). A case study research methodology was used in this study. 200 student teachers enrolled in the primary teacher-training program, 100 of them were at the first year; the others were at the final year, participated in this study. A test, which consists of 25 items, 7 of which were open-ended, was developed based on a pilot study and implemented to the subjects. The test scores obtained from both first-year students and final-year students were compared by using a t-test technique. Also, individual interviews were conducted with 12 students to support the findings. The results from this study showed that the prospective science teachers have not got sufficient understanding and have held a number of misconceptions related to the concepts. Also, it was found that the prospective science teachers at the first year are more successful than those at the final year. To overcome prospective science teachers' misconceptions, the training programs should be included activities so that prospective teachers both could correct their misconceptions and later teach these concept at primary school scientifically. Key words: Teacher training, Chemistry concepts, Misconceptions VI