APPLICATION OF CONSTRUCTIVIST EVALUATION APPROACH IN SCIENCE TEACHING : CONCEPT MAP

A major theme of Science education research throughout the past three decades has been student’s misconceptions of scientific phenomena. Research has shown that misconceptions among pupils are resistant to change, and they persist even with formal science instruction.This paper highlights student’s thinking and exploration of concepts using visuospatial relationships flowing from a central theme to peripheral branches which can be interrelated, i.e. concept map In this present study, an investigator gave detailed information to IX standard students about the method of drawing a concept map with illustrative examples. Then students gave the opportunity to draw concept maps of simple concepts. After that the topic selected for concept map was ‘Life around You’ from IX standard ‘Science and technology’ textbook published by Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, Pune. The topic was discussed in the class with the help of a power point slide show which included various thought provoking questions. At the last, various concept maps were collected form IX standard students. After collection, an investigator evaluated every group of students from that concept map and gave appropriate suggestions to each group of students.