Influence of scientific stories on students ideas about science and scientists

Abstract This study was conducted to determine whether a lesson, in which context-based learning approach and scientific stories were used, changed students' (aged 11-12) stereotypical images of science and scientists. Data was collected from two separate sources: Interviews conducted with six students and Draw a Scientist Test (DAST) document that was given to 80 students (before and after the intervention). In the study, context-based learning approach with scientific stories was used as intervention after which a change in students' ideas about science and scientists was observed. At the end of the study, changes were observed in various categories of stereotypical images of scientists, such as use laboratory tools (test tubes, glass bottles, magnifying glasses, chemicals, etc.), use of technological appliances (computers, microscopes, telescopes, machines, robots, etc.), scientists who study living things (plants, animals, humans), scientists who study inside a laboratory, scientists who study outdoors (nature, space, etc.). At the same time changes in students' understanding of nature of science were observed. After the intervention, clues about student ideas such as, there is more than one scientific method, there is no single criteria for doing science, scientists use their imagination in their studies, and scientists' studies are not limited to one field were observed. In the course of the study, student's ideas about science changed from a positivist philosophy toward a heuristic philosophy

Microfluidic cell sorter with integrated piezoelectric actuator

We demonstrate a low-power (<0.1 mW), low-voltage (<10 Vp-p) on-chip piezoelectrically actuated micro-sorter that can deflect single particles and cells at high-speed. With rhodamine in the stream, switching of flow between channels can be visualized at high actuation frequency (~1.7 kHz). The magnitude of the cell deflection can be precisely controlled by the magnitude and waveform of input voltage. Both simulation and experimental results indicate that the drag force imposed on the suspended particle/cell by the instantaneous fluid displacement can alter the trajectory of the particle/cell of any size, shape, and density of interest in a controlled manner. The open-loop E. Coli cell deflection experiment demonstrates that the sorting mechanism can produce a throughput of at least 330 cells/s, with a promise of a significantly higher throughput for an optimized design. To achieve close-loop sorting operation, fluorescence detection, real-time signal processing, and field-programmable-gate-array (FPGA) implementation of the control algorithms were developed to perform automated sorting of fluorescent beads. The preliminary results show error-free sorting at a sorting efficiency of ~70%. Since the piezoelectric actuator has an intrinsic response time of 0.1–1 ms and the sorting can be performed under high flowrate (particle speed of ~1–10 cm/s), the system can achieve a throughput of >1,000 particles/s with high purity

An evaluation of science teacher canditates’ energy saving behavior ıntention based on the theory of planned behaviour

The aim of the study is to evaluate science teacher candidates’ behaviour of energy saving intention among sustainable behaviours within the frame of the Theory of Planned Behaviour. The study was conducted with 1947 teacher candidates studying in six geographical regions of Turkey (Central Anatolia Region, Black Sea Region, Aegean Region, Marmara Region, Mediterranean Region and Eastern Anatolia Region) in the spring semester of 2015-2016 academic year. Corelational survey model was used in the study. Within the scope of the research, the Energy Saving Scale (ESS) was developed in order to determine the factors and beliefs affecting the sustainable Behaviours of science teacher candidates, in pursuant of the Theory of Planned Behaviour and by taking into account the scale development steps. The Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient of the dimensions of the Energy Saving Scale (N = 1947) varies between .918 and .952. The Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient for the entire Energy Saving Scale is .944. The results of the research, indicated that science teacher candidates’ attitudes towards energy saving Behaviour are low and the "Subjective Norm" is effective in explaining the "Intention towards Behaviour " and the " Intention towards Behaviour " is most influenced by the factor of the "Perceived Behaviour al Control"