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Examining Thai Biology Teachers’ Understanding of the Nature of Science

Adchara Chaisri and Kongsak Thathong

Abstract This research aimed at examining Thai biology teachers’ understanding of the nature of science (NoS). Participants included 118 biology teachers from 51 schools in Nakhon Phanom and Mukdahan provinces, Thailand, where there are various ethnic groups of the Mekong sub-region people. Research methodology utilized an interpretive paradigm. Teachers’ understanding of NoS was interpreted through an open-ended questionnaire about NoS that was adapted from Lederman et al. (2002) VNOS-C, and interviews. The results of this study shows that more than 50% of the participants had shown uninformed, ambiguous I, and ambiguous II views in the questionnaire and interview. The paper discussed the nature of science understanding of teachers’ in order to alter this, improving their understanding of NoS and preparing them for teaching.

Keywords: Biology Teacher, Nature of Science (NoS)

A. Chaisri

Ph.D.Student (Science Education), Khon Kean University, Khon Kean, Thailand email: adchara.bio@gmail.com

K. Thathong

Department of Science Education , Khon Kean University, Khon Kean, Thailand email: Kongsak@kku.ac.th