The significance of scientific inquiry has long been emphasized in science education for fostering a deeper understanding of the nature of science. In Taiwan, the 12-Year Basic Education Curriculum Guidelines also highlight “inquiry and practice” as central elements in natural science learning. This study investigated the impact of a novel digital inquiry platform on the biology inquiry learning performance of high school students. Specifically, we examined how pre-existing science learning self-efficacy predicted or moderated performance, particularly among groups with different levels of science achievement. The platform was designed around a biology module on yeast fermentation rates and guided students through a four-stage inquiry process: (1) formulating questions and hypotheses, (2) planning experiments and gathering data from videos of all possible experimental conditions, (3) constructing arguments by comparing findings with initial hypotheses, and (4) communicating their inquiry process through poster presentations. Participants were 67 tenth-grade students from an all-boys senior high school in northern Taiwan, including a gifted group (n = 31) and a general group (n = 36). A Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was used to analyze pre- and post-test differences in inquiry learning performance, while a multiple regression model examined the predictive and moderating roles of self-efficacy on students’ performance. The findings highlight the potential of the novel digital platform to support inquiry learning for students of varying achievement levels and underscore the significant role of pre-existing self-efficacy in shaping inquiry learning performance.

Authors:
Chia-Hui Cheng, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan
Fang-Ying Yang, Graduate Institute of Science Education, Taiwan

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Chia-Hui Cheng is currently an assistant professor of Graduate Institute of Science Education, College of Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Tuesday Schedule

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