Development of an inquiry-based learning unit for enhancing high-school students’ understanding of animal social behavior

Abstract

Animal social behavior, an essential part of biology, involves the process and mechanism of how animals live in groups. Because it is a topic usually taught by the traditional method in a very abstract way, students end up having an inadequate understanding and even some misconceptions of it. This study, thus, aimed to develop a learning unit, based on the 5E learning model, to enhance high-school students’ understanding of some aspects of animal social behavior by using the Siamese fighting fish as a concrete example. Students were engaged by video clips on animal behavior together with other learning materials. They designed their own experiments, which involved observing fish behavior in tanks and constructed their own knowledge from data gathered and discussion in class. The experimental group was given the 5E learning unit, whereas the control group was taught traditionally, both with the same objectives. Student achievements were assessed by pre- and post- tests and their documents. Students participating in the 5E learning unit gained better conceptual understanding of animal social behavior as well as acquired science process skills. They had acquired positive attitudes toward the learning unit as evidenced by their reflections and semi-structured interviews.