Exploring Reality Pedagogy Through Students' Perceptions of the Learning Environment and Attitudes Toward Science

• In Event: 29.081 - Pedagogical Practices in Urban Settings

Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of reality pedagogy in terms of changes in students’ perceptions of their learning environment and attitudes toward science. Reality pedagogy involves a shift in instructional practices to more greatly include students in the process of teaching and learning. Data were collected through a pretest and posttest administration of the Questionnaire Assessing the Learning Environment and Student Attitudes with sixty students in two high school science classrooms using reality pedagogy in the Bronx, New York. Data analyses revealed statistically significant differences between the pretest and posttest for all of the learning environment (Personal Relevance, Critical Voice, Shared Control, Involvement, and Cooperation) and student attitude scales (Attitudes to Scientific Inquiry and Enjoyment of Science Lessons).

Author

• George Sirrakos, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania