ERIC Number: EJ997755
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1756-1108
EISSN: N/A
Extensiveness and Perceptions of Lecture Demonstrations in the High School Chemistry Classroom
Price, Daniel S.; Brooks, David W.
Chemistry Education Research and Practice, v13 n4 p420-427 2012
While lecture demonstrations have been conducted in chemistry classrooms for hundreds of years, little research exists to document the frequency with which such demonstrations are employed or their effect on learners' motivation and performance. A mixed-methods research study was performed, using quantitative and qualitative survey data, along with qualitative data from follow-up interviews and structured email correspondence. Fifty-two randomly selected chemistry teachers completed a survey regarding their present and projected use of classroom demonstrations. Twelve of the survey participants provided elaboration in the form of an extended questionnaire. Data indicate that all except one of the survey participants currently employ lecture demonstrations, and all anticipate performing the same number of, or more, demonstrations in their future instruction. Extended questionnaire and survey data reveal that the participating chemistry teachers perceive substantial positive effects on students' performance on classroom assignments and a lesser, though still positive, effect, on learners' motivation. No correlations were observed between the number of lecture demonstrations performed and educators' years of experience teaching chemistry, previous exposure to demonstrations, or undergraduate degrees earned. (Contains 2 tables.)
Descriptors: Student Motivation, Chemistry, Assignments, Lecture Method, Teaching Methods, Secondary School Science, High Schools, Science Teachers, Teacher Attitudes, Demonstrations (Educational), Questionnaires, Science Achievement, Teaching Experience, Educational Attainment
Royal Society of Chemistry. Thomas Graham House, Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WF, UK. Tel: +44-1223 420066; Fax: +44-1223 423623; e-mail: cerp@rsc.org; Web site: http://www.rsc.org/cerp
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A