Piyachat Jittam. Development of a bromoperoxidase-based learning cycle to enhance conceptual understanding of second year university students concerning enzyme kinetics. Doctoral Degree(Science and Technology Education ). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2008.
Development of a bromoperoxidase-based learning cycle to enhance conceptual understanding of second year university students concerning enzyme kinetics
Abstract:
This study employed the concepts of the learning cycle a three-phase inquiry approach
consisting of exploration, concept introduction, and concept application to design learning
activities for undergraduate science laboratory work in order to enhance Thai second year
university students understanding of enzyme kinetics. The laboratory activities designed for
students were based on our own scientific work on one type of enzyme (bromoperoxidases) from
the red seaweed G. tangi that has great promise for biotechnological applications.
In doing so, a simple detection for the enzyme activity in seaweed developed in the above
mentioned research was used to engage students interest in enzyme kinetics. Then the students
were left to themselves to plan their own experiments concerning factors influence the rate of the
enzymes catalytic reaction. The results obtained were then compared and contrasted by the
students themselves. In this learning cycle class, the teachers acted as facilitators to help students
inquire effectively.
The effects of the designed activity on the students understanding of enzyme kinetics and
on their perceptions and preferences in the learning environment were examined. Five diverse data
collecting methods were used for triangulation. These were achievement tests, questionnaires,
interviews, classroom observation, and analysis of documents.
The analysis of the data from questionnaires, interviews, and classroom observation
showed that the students were enthusiastic, happy and competitive. The students asked the teachers
for help at the beginning but only briefly. They were more eager to collaborate and consult within
the group to see whether their results were similar or different from others. Naturally the teachers
had to conduct a wrap-up consensus session to clarify main points. The results also showed that,
after performing these laboratory activities, the students seemed to follow the lecture better because
they already had prior knowledge from their experiences in the laboratory part of the class. The
results from the achievement tests and the analysis of students documents such as concept maps,
laboratory reports, posters as well as their submitted assignments showed that students had a better
conceptual understanding of enzyme kinetics. Their post-test scores (36.96 ± 6.71) were
significantly higher than their pre-test scores (25.25 ± 6.46) as was expected; however, students
knowledge retention was much better than expected.