The alternative conceptions of preservice teachers concerning the status of organelles during cell division

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify pre-service teachers' alternative conceptions concerning the status of organelles during cell division. A total of 212 pre-service teachers participated in the study. Data were collected by asking open-ended questions of all pre-service teachers, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants. Data were analyzed by coding data segments within 11 categories. Categories were tabulated and interpreted by including sample data sections about the codes. The results indicated that there were some students who explained that no organelle dissolved or disappeared and no change occurred in any organelles during cell division besides pre-service teachers who said that all organelles dissolved and disappeared during cell division. In addition, a few pre-service teachers thought that while some organelles dissolved and disappeared, others did not. It was understood that those pre-service teachers were confused about which structures and organelles disappeared and which ones continued their existence, and they had various alternative conceptions. Moreover, pre-service teachers had alternative conceptions regarding the status of organelles particularly about structures such as chromosome, centrosome, DNA, and RNA.