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an innovative approach

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from process of inquiry such observation, pl<strong>an</strong>ning <strong>an</strong>d investigation which needs<br />

social accept<strong>an</strong>ce.<br />

2. The Value of the Nature of Science for Teaching <strong>an</strong>d Learning Photosynthesis<br />

Apparently science teachers often undervalue the nature of science. They<br />

focus on teaching scientific concepts rather th<strong>an</strong> helping the students underst<strong>an</strong>d how<br />

science works <strong>an</strong>d how science knowledge is created. Teaching without regarding the<br />

nature of science was shown to result in students holding signific<strong>an</strong>t misconceptions<br />

about photosynthesis (Smith <strong>an</strong>d Anderson, 1984; Driver et al., 1996).<br />

Smith <strong>an</strong>d Anderson (1984) studied the use of a life science unit of the R<strong>an</strong>d<br />

McNally SCIIS program to teach Grade 5 students about pl<strong>an</strong>t growth <strong>an</strong>d<br />

photosynthesis. A female teacher was studied through the teaching-pl<strong>an</strong>ning process<br />

using observation <strong>an</strong>d video recording, as well as formal <strong>an</strong>d informal interviews<br />

before <strong>an</strong>d after her teaching in the classroom. Although student misconceptions<br />

about pl<strong>an</strong>t <strong>an</strong>d photosynthesis were found during the unit, the teacher had attempted<br />

to solve this problem by herself. For example, she grew seeds in the germination<br />

systems without soil as evidence that pl<strong>an</strong>ts do not need soil or fertilizer to grow. At<br />

the end of the unit, 80% of the students were aware that pl<strong>an</strong>ts made food, while 20%<br />

of the students actually ch<strong>an</strong>ged their conception about pl<strong>an</strong>ts from ‘pl<strong>an</strong>ts take food’<br />

to ‘pl<strong>an</strong>ts make food’ (Smith <strong>an</strong>d Anderson, 1984: 695). These researchers thus<br />

indicated that the teacher’s belief about what is scientific knowledge <strong>an</strong>d how students<br />

learn could signific<strong>an</strong>tly develop student learning about photosynthesis.<br />

Including the nature of science as a goal of science teaching was suggested<br />

through the works of Driver et al. (1996), McComas, Clough <strong>an</strong>d Almazroa (1998),<br />

<strong>an</strong>d Robinson (1998a, 1998b). There are reasons which Driver et al. (1996: 16-23)<br />

gave for this suggestion. First, from a utilitari<strong>an</strong> view, students have to underst<strong>an</strong>d<br />

the nature of science because it could enable them to know the limitation of scientific<br />

knowledge <strong>an</strong>d theories. This is needed to confidently make sense of the science <strong>an</strong>d<br />

m<strong>an</strong>age the technological objects <strong>an</strong>d processes in everyday experiences. Second, a<br />

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