JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL EDUCATION, vol.46, no.2, pp.81-92, 2012 (SCI-Expanded)
In the present study, the understandings of student teachers (training for the primary phase and Master's degree students from a primary science and technology education department) about flowers and plant cells using the method of drawing in combination with interviews are explored. The data were gathered from 116 student teachers and 10 Master's degree students training for the primary phase from Turkey. The sample was selected due to one of the researchers being a member of staff in this faculty. A qualitative approach was adopted. A measuring instrument consisting of 10 open-ended questions was prepared and given to the students. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 20 student teachers and six Master's students; these students were randomly selected from the total sample. In our study we found that they were simply copying internet or book diagrams instead of drawing their own diagrams. We conclude that it may be helpful to train student teachers in the processes of contsructing and reading diagrams.