THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT ON MICROCOSMIC PARTICLE CONCEPTIONS WITH A COMPUTER ANIMATION ASSISTED INSTRUCTION

The purpose of this study was to help junior high School Students' developing understanding of microcosmic particle conceptions with a computer animation assisted instruction. First, we used the questionnaire, interviews and pictures that the students drew to evaluate thirty-seven students' understanding of microcosmic particle conceptions and proof the consistence of explanation to application questions in the grade-8. Second, we divided the students into two groups. The experimental group learned with a computer animation assisted instruction. The results indicated that : (a) The students' microcosmic particle conceptions could he classified into three types. Most students are in type of the Spontaneous description definition. (b) The students who learned with a computer animation assisted instruction showed a remarkable improvement in their understanding of microcosmic particle conceptions. The results Of this Study provide reference resources for designing instructional materials and methods to help students constructing scientific conceptions.