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6. Summary: Learning about Photosynthesis in Context<br />

Students’ misconceptions still persist in m<strong>an</strong>y research studies about student<br />

learning in photosynthesis. There are some influences on the origin of the<br />

misconceptions. First, everyday l<strong>an</strong>guage is frequently used to describe <strong>an</strong>d explain<br />

phenomena in the context of biology. This may bring conflicting me<strong>an</strong>ing for<br />

students to underst<strong>an</strong>d biological terminology. For example, pl<strong>an</strong>t food is viewed as a<br />

physical thing which should be seen <strong>an</strong>d touched. Second, some prior<br />

misunderst<strong>an</strong>dings about photosynthesis bring students to also misunderst<strong>an</strong>d the new<br />

concepts. Third, students themselves do not integrate study information about<br />

photosynthesis. One example is their lack of linking between the concepts of food<br />

<strong>an</strong>d the role of energy in photosynthesis as well as the basic chemical concepts.<br />

Another is the lack of linking between the inside <strong>an</strong>d outside classroom information.<br />

Fourth, students have misunderst<strong>an</strong>ding about photosynthesis because they have been<br />

taught by the teachers who hold the misconceptions <strong>an</strong>d are not aware of their own<br />

conceptual development. Fifth, not regarding the relationships between<br />

photosynthesis <strong>an</strong>d environmental education is <strong>an</strong> additional reason for the persistence<br />

of the misconception. Therefore, development of a new teaching intervention is<br />

needed to overcome student learning difficulties about photosynthesis.<br />

There are, of course, various theoretical learning perspectives which this<br />

research would need to take into account in the basic principle of a new teaching<br />

intervention. The broad cluster of constructivist theories which have given rise<br />

recently to socio-cultural <strong>approach</strong>es is paramount among these perspectives.<br />

Constructivist Theories as a Teaching <strong>an</strong>d Learning Perspective<br />

1. Overview: Development of Constructivist Perspectives<br />

Constructivism is a major influence in contemporary science education.<br />

Psychologically, the original core of constructivism involves how beliefs are<br />

developed, not what makes beliefs true or what counts as scientific knowledge<br />

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