Priestly’s Experiment and High School Srudents’ Understanding of Respiration and Photosynthesis

Abstract

In the present study, the authors assessed upper secondary school students’ understanding of the gases given off and taken in by respiration and photosynthesis in regard to Priestly’s experiment. Their findings include : among upper secondary school students who considered the situation of Priestly’s experiment (1) many students listed six main essential elements for life (photosynthesis, respiration, water, food, temperature, and others), (2) many students did not refer to respiration, one of the most important elements for plants, and (3) only a few students were able to determine and understand that both O2 and CO2 gases are given off and taken in by respiration and photosynthesis. According to these results, the authors proposed a strategy that focuses on improving upper secondary school students’ understanding of respiration and photosynthesis.