Assessment of Cognitive Changes in Ecological Concepts, in Mexican Junior High School Students

Assessment of Cognitive Changes in Ecological Concepts, in Mexican Junior High School Students

Sergio Rodolfo Torres Ochoa

This study was made from a random sample of students of secondary school (basic education), in urban an rural schools of the public sector of the state of Michoacán, Mexico. Significant cognitive changes of basic concepts of Ecology, during the whole academic year were assessed in each one of the three grades which conform this level of education. For such purpose, a group of six fundamental and four complementary concepts was used with which a core concept diagram was elaborated. From this diagram, a 23 task questionnaire was designed and applied as conceptual assessment instrument. The general results show that there are no significant differences, statistically speaking, between the beginning and the end of the academic year, regarding the principal Ecology concepts and other related concepts that were assessed as well. This study included an interpretative phase based in conceptual maps, which results are not included in this article.

2008

conceptos científicos, ecología, enseñanza de las ciencias, formación de conceptos, procesos cognitivos

Revista Electrónica de Investigación Educativa

Universidad Autonoma de Baja California

Education