No abstract

This study aims to explore grade level and gender differences in the attitudes toward chemistry (ATC), self-efficacy (SE), and learning experiences (LE) of preservice chemistry teachers. A total of 191 pre-service chemistry teachers were taken as the sample through cluster random sampling technique. This crosssectional survey collected the data using CAEQ questionnaire and interview. MANOVA test was carried out to analyze the quantitative data on the significance level .05, while the qualitative data were analyzed using Patton qualitative data analysis procedure. The findings showed that: 1) the LE level of the preservice chemistry teachers was the highest compared to SE and ATC ; 2) there was a difference of ATC and SE between the freshman and sophomore groups, and there was a difference in terms of ATC between freshman and junior categories, yet no different in terms of LE based on this category; and that 3) there was no difference of ATC, SE, and LE based on gender. The results accord with the interview findings in which both male and female student teachers have positive attitudes toward learning chemistry, and there was a difference of ATC, SE, and LE between freshman, sophomore, and junior.

This research explored the level of students’ basic and integrated Science Process Skills (SPS) based on their academic majors, gender, and grade levels at the end of a chemistry laboratory course. Convenience sampling was used to select 298 undergraduate students at the Yogyakarta State University, Indonesia. A survey method was used, and the data were collected using the Basic SPS (BSPS) and Integrated SPS (ISPS) Observation Checklist. The results showed that the students’ basic and integrated SPS were considered medium and low respectively. Furthermore, there was a significant gap in the students’ performance based on their majors, gender and grade levels. Surprisingly, it was found that the perception and social convention that males are stronger than females in science appears not to be the case among students. Moreover, there was a moderate positive and significant correlation between students’ basic and integrated SPS. Students with a high basic SPS score had the tendency to obtain a higher integrated SPS score. Therefore, it is concluded that prior to starting lab course activities, lecturers need to determine their students’ process skills in order to plan in such a manner that they can assist to raise their students’ current basic and integrated SPS. Keywords: academic majors, grade levels, science process skills, undergraduate students.

No abstract

Many countries have implemented context-based learning in the last 20 years. Through this contextbased learning, students are taught learning materials that are relevant to everyday life. This research is an experimental research with posttest only design. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of contextbased learning on student achievement and attitudes on acid-base material. The result of the research shows that there is an influence of context-based chemistry learning on student achievement and attitude.