an innovative approach

1. Developing Photosynthesis Lessons
These lessons were developed to enhance Grade 11 students’ learning about
photosynthesis. The analysis of the National Education Act of 1999, the National
Science Curriculum (IPST, 2002) and the relevant literature, including a prior study of
2002 (Kijkuakul and Yutakom, 2004) provided the guiding principles to develop
photosynthesis lessons for the intervention.
Then, the scope and sequence of the contents in each learning unit was
organized. The teaching and learning activities, teaching materials and assessment
were designed to facilitate individualized learning, such as hands-on/minds on
activities, laboratory experiments, discussion, negotiation, problem solving, and
teacher/student demonstration.
The photosynthesis lessons, then, were validated by the experts including four
science educators and two scientists. In addition, these lessons were piloted with a
group of the 11th grade students at a high school in cooperation with the Faculty of
Education, Kasetsart University, in the first semester of the 2004 academic year.
Later, the lessons were revised.
Finally, the biology teachers who would implement the photosynthesis lessons
were invited to collaborate in revising these lessons. Their teaching contexts i.e.
teaching and learning culture in the classroom were mainly recognized for the
revision.
2. Implementing Photosynthesis Lessons
To support their effective implementation in the classroom, it was necessary
for teachers to understand the theoretical background in the development of
photosynthesis lessons. Teacher training for this understanding and suggestions for an
understanding of the teachers’ roles in the classroom were part of this study.
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