THE ROLE OF MATH AND SCIENCE EXPOSURE ON THE EFFECT OF 5E INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL IN PHYSICS CONCEPTIONS

Abstract

5E instructional model is commonly utilized in science teaching to promote conceptual learning. However, the benefit of 5E instructional model cannot be fully attained if the knowledge and skills essential to learning were not properly established from past. Similarly, the development of new concepts cannot be fully attained if the important processes inculcated in the 5E model were not considered in teaching. In this research, the effects of 5E model instruction and previous learning experiences on the conceptual learning of students in Newtonian mechanics were evaluated. Using 2 x 2 factorial research design, the conceptual understanding of 172 undergraduate students was evaluated before and after the experiment. These participants were distributed into four groups with different programs. The result revealed that both 5E instructional model and previous learning experiences contributed to the conceptual learning of students in mechanics. Those students who received 5E instructional model and whose exposure to science and math courses is high, gained the highest increase in the mean score after the experiment. This suggests that the effectiveness of 5E instructional model can be fully achieved if the knowledge and skills essential to learning and conceptual change were properly established from previous learning experiences and activities. Keywords: 5E model, conceptual change, conceptual learning, learning cycle, prior knowledge