THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HANDS-ON/AUTHENTIC LEARNING ON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENT IN AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS SCIENCE (79 - 100)

Abstract

This study is aimed at determining young students’ achievement in the standard 5 science content, and attitudes towards science, after experiencing hands-on learning. Ten pupils from one elementary school in Selangor were purposively selected as participants. Observations and interviews were the methods used to collect data, and rubrics were specially designed as assessment tools. Data collected from observation were analysed descriptively while from interviews using NVivo 2.0. It is found that the attitudes of the pupils are positive towards science after experiencing hands-on learning, and they are able to link concepts taught through experiments to their daily life experience. Also, hands-on/authentic teaching and learning is found to be an effective pedagogy which increases pupils’ achievement as well as improves their understanding of science concepts. The young students are found to be highly motivated, hence hands-on/authentic teaching and learning is recommended to be implemented by elementary school teachers in Malaysia.