Exploring factors affecting science teachers' opinions on students constructing models

In this study, it is aimed to determine science teachers' opinions on students constructing models in science classes and to identify the possible factors that affect science teachers' opinions. For this reason, science teachers' knowledge about models and modeling, their opinions about the concepts of model and modeling, and teachers' positive or negative attitudes towards students designing and constructing models in the classroom were identified and analyzed by using semi-structured interviews. Thirty science teachers, from public and private secondary and high schools, working in the fields of science, physics, chemistry and biology were voluntarily participated (n=30) in the study. The participants were from the cities of Ankara and Zonguldak in Turkey. Qualitative research method was used in this research. In the data collection process, semi-structured interview questions consisting of six major questions prepared by the researchers were used. As a result of the research, it has been found that science teachers mostly have positive thoughts about models and modeling process. The results of the study also indicated some negative thoughts due to the factors such as time constraints, too much and intense subjects, and reluctance of students. The main emerging factors affecting the teachers' opinions on students constructing models in science classes were identified in this research are: the idea that model is being an important teaching and learning tool, the idea and the underlining purposes of model's construction by students, collaboration among students, using and obtaining inexpensive materials for building models, models are not being complicated and not taking too much class time, models are being safe and appropriate both to the student and the topic, level of the class, level of the subject, and using the materials that can be obtained easily.