Improving Explanation Activities Using the "Taiwa-Method" for "Solution and Ions" in Third-Grade of Lower Secondary School

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to create a proposal for enriching explanation activities in grade three of a lower secondary school. As a setting, our classes performed Exercises 1 through 4 of an activity to investigate the relationship between an electrolyte solution and two types of metals. We implemented the use of explanation activities in asking students to consider the results of the experiments. A class of 45 students was divided into two groups referred to as the "Taiwa Method" class and the "General" class. The "Taiwa Method" class was comprised of 23 students who expressed their ideas and opinions using the "Taiwa Method", a technique which aims at organizing one's thoughts through creating a dialogue onabout the subject matter. The "General" class was comprised of 22 students who expressed their ideas using only ordinary expressions in their explanations. We studied how the students in these two groups developed their ability to explain their results. As a result of this research, we concluded that the "Taiwa Method" works well for enriching explanation activities. The following points became clear: 1 In the "Taiwa Method" class, through asking the question "Why?" students were able to clearly describe their evidence. 2 In the "Taiwa Method" class, students were able to clearly define and organize their evidence and conclusion. Furthermore, students were able to give their explanations to others in a manner that was clear, logical, and easy to understand. 3 In the case of Exercise 4, during which the students were asked to describe their opinions using ordinary expressions, students in the "Taiwa Method" class were able to reach a conclusion based on their experiences working on Exercises 1 through 3 in which they explained their own experiences and opinions and checked their conclusions while being mindful of others. 4 The results of the pre-and post-questionnaire showed that the students in the "Taiwa Method" class were able to actualize the following: 1) to effectively explain their own opinions 2) to make others understand their opinions