The Development of Analytical Thinking Ability and Attitude Towards Sciences Through Science Technology and Society (STS) Instruction in the Topic of Water and Air of Grade 3 Students at Watrattanawararam School in Phatthalung Province

Abstract

The objectives of this action research were 1) to develop the analytical thinking ability of Grade 3 Students at Watrattanawararam School through Science Technology and Society (STS) Instruction on the topic of water and air, 2) to evaluate the attitudes towards science of Grade 3 Students at Watrattanawararam School and 3) to identify the best practices in STS Instruction that promote the analytical thinking ability. The participants were 21 grade 3 students at Watrattanawararam School, in the second semester of the 2019 academic year, selected by purposive sampling method. The research tinstruments included a learning management plan, an analytical thinking ability test, an attitude towards science  assessment, post-management notes, and activity sheets. The data were analyzed using content analysis, mean, frequency, and percentage.

          The results showed that: 1) after using STS Instruction, the analytical thinking ability of 10 students was improved 47.62% with excellent level, compared with before using STS Instruction, the analytical thinking ability of 15 students or 71.43% was at low level, 2) the students' attitudes towards science after using STS Instruction were at high level, and 3) there were 2 best practices in learning management based on STS Instruction; (1) asking guided questions based on the level of thinking of each teaching step to could encourage students using their experiences and prior knowledge, classify information, and make connections; and (2) surveying the atmosphere and conducting hands-on investigations in the local environment could promote students to be enthusiastic students and be the inspiration for analyzing the data