Alternative Framework in Electrochemistry among Secondary Schools Students in Johor, Malaysia

Abstract

The presence of an alternative framework in the students’ minds acts as the main hindrance to students exhibiting profound understanding of scientific concepts, which in turn promotes the application of scientific knowledge to solve daily life context problems. This research is done in two phases. In the first phase, the research aims to identify the alternative framework among students on the concept of electrochemistry, and in the second phase, it develops an instructional module for secondary school students on the concept of electrochemistry by using the five-phase Needham constructivism model approach to overcome the alternative framework that exists in the students’ minds. In this paper, however, only the findings of the first phase are reported. The instrument used for this study is the electrochemistry test developed based on previous research and validated by experts. This paper and pencil test is used in the first phase of the research as a data collection tool. This research adapted a quantitative research design. The data from the electrochemistry test is analyzed using statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS) 20.0 to get the descriptive data as findings of the first phase of the study. The findings of the first phase of this study indicate that the conceptualization level of students in electrochemistry is poor. Multiple alternative frameworks among students were identified from the analysis of the students’ responses. This study contributed to existing literature by identifying the alternative frameworks present precisely in electrochemistry. The study recommends incorporating mobile technologies in the data collection process and in developing online instructional modules to be more accessible to educators throughout the country and to steer the chemistry education world to a higher level in the Malaysian education system. Enlightening the alternative framework existent in the students’ knowledge schemata immensely facilitates educators worldwide in planning their instructional approach in the classroom for this specific scientific concept.