Visualisation in Biology Education

Dr. John OVERSBY, Dr. Ünsal UMDU TOPSAKAL

Visuals of various kinds - photographs, paintings, diagrams, illustrations - are important to a good education program.   Generally visuals constitute the most effective, most plentiful, and least expensive teaching medium.

Although visuals have enormous potential as teaching tools, they have to be carefully selected and professionally utilized.  When used appropriately children will learn to see and to think.  Isn't that what education is about? (Ryan, 1993)

Can the teachers draw diagrams of a flower and a plant cell?

It was a qualitative study. The sample was 116 student

teachers , 10 masters students from Turkey.

Age about 20.

Students drew diagrams of a flower and a plant cell and then labelled them.

3

4 6

21

5

We asked them why they drew these diagrams and what other kinds that they knew. Then we asked them to draw a diagram of a daisy because it is a complex flower.

A smaIl sample interviewed. Semi-structured interviews were carried out.

Half of the elementary science and technology teacher students and all the elementary teacher students said that all the flowers have same scientific diagrams. All of the masters students disagreed with them.

Most of the elementary science and technology teacher students and all the elementary teacher students said that the plant cells were same. All of the masters students disagreed with them.

They were taught in the school from elementary classes until now. We found these to be the main source from why they drew these diagrams. Books were also mentioned, but to a lesser extent.

Drawing a daisy was too hard for them.

Masters students know most, then science specialised students teachers next.

We found it just they are copying internet diagrams or book diagrams. In second step of our project we will try to find which one is important: How to diagram or how to draw ?

Parts of a flower

Functions of the parts