Teaching photosynthesis in the digital age: STEM inquiry-based learning activity

This contribution brings results of a pilot study aimed on the impact of STEM inquiry-based learning activity supported by the use of digital measuring device with optical oxygen sensor in students experiments on understanding photosynthesis. Several misconceptions in students' understanding of photosynthesis were discovered in pre-tests. The pilot study was conducted among 71 lower secondary school students of 9(th) grade. The tested learning activity improved the students' understanding of photosynthesis and helped overcome misconceptions in the field of plant nutrition and biomass development. Based on the analysis of student preferences for different ways of learning photosynthesis we assume that learning photosynthesis via experiments using modern measuring devices is positively accepted by students.