Students' and Teachers' Opinion on the Possibilities of Improving Students' Research Skills in Biology Lessons

Abstract

Acquisition of students' research skills in the learning process is one of the main goals in the educational process. The aim of the study was to clear out the opinion of students and teachers on the possibilities of improving students' research skills in biology lessons. The survey of the 10th, 11th and 12th-grade students about their opinion on the importance of research skills, the level of their research skills and possibilities of improving students’ research skills in biology lessons were carried out in three secondary schools of Latvia. Altogether 142 students were surveyed. Three biology teachers were interviewed as well. The results of the research showed that most of the surveyed students appreciate the benefits of acquiring research skills. The majority of the surveyed students rate their level of research skills as average. Most of the students usually do not have problems with research activities. Students consider that the most difficult of the stages is nomination and justification of the hypothesis. The majority of surveyed students consider that most of the methods used in lessons have a middle or big influence on the development of research skills. Students consider that laboratory work has the greatest impact on the development of research skills. Students evaluate the teacher's activity in the learning process and consider that different activities used in Biology lessons promote the development of research skills. The surveyed biology teachers rate the students' research skills as good. Teachers are convinced that one of the most important preconditions for the development of research skills is the formation of interest in the relevant topic. Successful cooperation between teachers and students plays a crucial role in the development of students' scientific skills.