THINKING IN TERMS OF VARIABLES: THE CONCEPT OF THE SHADOW

Abstract

The aim of the research was to explore the ideas prospective science teachers (N=51) had about the variables of object size, shape and light transmission that have an impact on shadow formation, using a scientific activity based on Inquiry-Based Science Education (IBSE). In this qualitative study, the measurement tool comprises 3 questions. The first question examines how the participants define the concept of shadow while the second question focuses on the variables of the size of the object, its shape, and its light transmission. The participants were asked to explain whether these variables would produce a shadow. The last question was devised in the atmosphere of an activities laboratory in which the absorption and reflection properties of light were explored. The NVi10 program was utilized for data analysis. At the end of the research, it was observed that the prospective teachers were not able to define the concept of the shadow in scientific terms and even if they knew the basic variables related to shadow formation, they could not exactly explain new situations when the variables were manipulated.