Using action research based on the predict-observe-explain strategy for teaching enzymes

Abstract

The science laboratory course is one of the important courses that preservice science students take in their science education programs. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of an action research based on the POE (predict-observe-explain) strategy on preservice science teachers’ understanding of enzymes. The participants of the study consisted of 80 s ophomore preservice science teachers who enrolled in a science teaching laboratory course at a public university in Turkey. The data were obtained through the POE forms. The findings showed that the use of POE activities promoted significantly students’ understanding of enzymes. It was also found that although preservice science students indicated that activities based on the POE approach took more time compared to other instructional strategies, they emphasized that the POE activities were enjoyable compared to other instructional strategies. Based on the results obtained from this study, it is suggested that using the POE method in the science laboratory courses will contribute to preservice science teachers’ understanding of science topics.