Interest in a particular subject is one central factor in preservice teachers’ decision to become subject teachers. Interest in a subject can also become visible in preservice teachers’ teaching and may consequently impact their students’ interest in the subject. However, the interest of preservice teachers in their major and minor subjects has been scarcely addressed. In Finland, secondary school teachers usually study and teach two or three subjects. Major subjects are often chosen based on interest; however, the reasons for choosing a minor subject can vary. In this study, we examined the narratives of three preservice subject teachers regarding their interest in their minor and major subjects. They all studied mathematics, physics, and chemistry and revealed a much weaker interest in the minor subjects compared to the major subjects. Interestingly, our findings also reveal that preservice teachers’ perceived strengths in a specific subject may not be as crucial to their interests, as has been suggested by prior research. We discuss the consequences of preservice teachers’ weaker interest in certain subjects and provide recommendations for teacher education.

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A photocatalytic digestion device consisting of an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED) and a nano-TiO2 coated catalyst rod was designed and used for the decomposition of humic substances in natural water samples prior to inorganic elemental analysis. The aim was to develop a green sample pretreatment method by utilizing energy efficient and environmental friendly UV-LED technology. The effects of different experimental variables including pH, UV-LED irradiation time, and hydrogen peroxide concentration were studied using a statistical experimental design. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal was studied as the response. Dissolved organic carbon can interfere in some analytical measurements (for example in electrochemical analysis methods) and after digestion, the possible interfering effects are minimized. The recoveries for some spiked elements (As, Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Ge, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se and Tl) were studied. It was found that in optimal DOC removal conditions, the recoveries for cadmium, cobalt, nickel and selenium were good. However, lower recoveries for some hydride forming elements were observed, indicating element losses, possibly due to adsorption phenomenon.

Kemian laitos, Oulun yliopisto • johanna.havia@oulu.fi Tutkimuksessa selvitettiin Oulun yliopiston kemian opiskelijoiden motivaatiota kyselylomaketutkimuksella ja neljän opiskelijan haastattelulla. Tavoitteena oli selvittää motivaation rakentumista ja löytää tekijöitä, jotka vaikuttavat opiskelijoiden motivaatioon lukea kemiaa. Kyselylomake mittasi itsemääräämisteoriaan pohjautuen opiskelijoiden sisäistä motivaatiota, ulkoista motivaatiota ja motivaation puutetta. Opiskelijoiden yleisimmäksi motivaation osa-alueeksi paljastui sisäistä motivaatiota edustava halu tietää lisää kemiasta. Seuraavaksi yleisimmät olivat ulkoista motivaatiota edustavat ulkoinen säätely ja hyötyminen. Neljällä haastattelulla haettiin syvempää tietoa opiskelijoiden motivaatioon vaikuttavista tekijöistä. Hyvinä asioina koettiin muun muassa luentojen ja laboratorioharjoitusten kulkeminen rinnakkain ja tuoreiden tutkimustulosten tuominen mukaan opetukseen. Käytännön laboratorioharjoitusten merkitys nousi kaiken kaikkiaan selvästi esille.Motivaatiota heikentävinä asioina tuli esiin ryhmäytymisen ongelmat, epäselviksi jäävät asiat sekä luennot, joilla kaikki on annettu valmiina. Erityisesti ryhmäytyminen on asia, johon huomiota kiinnittämällä voitaisiin suhteellisen helposti lisätä opiskelumotivaatiota.