Effects of Metacognitive Learning Strategy on Elementary School Students' Conception Acquisition of Seasonal Change and Self-efficacy

초인지 학습전략이 초등학생의 계절의 변화 개념 형성과 자기 효능감에 미치는 효과

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of metacognitive strategy on conceptual acquisition ofvseasonal change and self-efficacy when it was applied to 6th grade elementary students. This study consists of 2 classes, 76 students in the 6th grade of elementary school, which were divided into the experimental group (38) and the control group (38). First, a pre-test was administrated to check students' levels of metacognitive self-regulation and self-efficacy prior to getting planned lessons and then an instruction program was developed based upon the metacognitive instruction model and students' conception. The control group was exposed to traditional methods mainly using the textbook and teacher's guide book. The experimental group employed a metacognitive learning strategy program and activities with metacognitive questionnaires. After the planned lessons, the students were tested with post-tests about the conception of seasonal change and self-efficacy. One month later the students were tested again with another test to determine the continuation effect. The results were as follows: First, the group that used metacognitive conceptual change instruction did better in forming and continuing to maintain the scientific seasonal change conceptions compared to the control group. Second, the high and intermediate group taught by metacognitive conceptual change instruction was higher in the level of self-regulation than the control group. However, it was not verified in the low group. Third, the group which used metacognitive conceptual change instruction showed a higher level of self-efficacy than the control group did.