Resumo

TORRES OCHOA, Sergio Rodolfo. Assessment of Cognitive Changes of Ecology Concepts in High School Students in Mexico. REDIE [online]. 2008, vol.10, n.2, pp.1-16. ISSN 1607-4041.

This study was made from a random sample of students of secondary school (basic education), in urban an rural schools of the public sector of the state of Michoacán, Mexico. Significant cognitive changes of basic concepts of Ecology, during the whole academic year were assessed in each one of the three grades which conform this level of education. For such purpose, a group of six fundamental and four complementary concepts was used with which a core concept diagram was elaborated. From this diagram, a 23 task questionnaire was designed and applied as conceptual assessment instrument. The general results show that there are no significant differences, statistically speaking, between the beginning and the end of the academic year, regarding the principal Ecology concepts and other related concepts that were assessed as well. This study included an interpretative phase based in conceptual maps, which results are not included in this article.

Palavras-chave : Concept formation; ecology; cognitive processes; science education; scientific concepts.

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