DEVELOPING A SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVIST TEACHING AND LEARNING MODULE ON DNA FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THAILAND

The purpose of this study is to develop a social constructivist teaching module on DNA for high school students in Thailand. The first phase of the study in the teaching and learning of genetics concepts was studied. A social constructivist teaching module on DNA was developed in the second phase. The survey in Phase I was conducted with five high school biology teachers and thirty-one high school students from four schools in the Bangkok Education Service Area Office. Data from interviews were analyzed using content analysis. Results showed most teachers surveyed acknowledged the genetics concepts for students’ understanding were moderately difficult, which was supported by the poorer performance in most students’ answers. Both the teacher and student groups highlighted ‘DNA Properties and DNA Synthesis’ and ‘DNA and RNA in Protein Synthesis’ as difficult concepts in genetics. The DNA module in Phase II was developed based on the social constructivist approach. Each of the units consisted of an ‘Orientation’ phase, a ‘Focus’ phase, and a ‘Conclusion’ phase. Hands-on activities, small group discussions and whole class discussions were introduced into the class. The module included ‘DNA Properties and DNA Synthesis’, ‘DNA and RNA in Protein Synthesis’, and ‘Chemical Structure of DNA’.