Secondary School Students Understanding Of Energy Flow In Ecosystems

Abstract

Understand ing of energy flow concepts in ecosystems is one prerequisite area among students for good performance in biology education . The pattern and trends in biology subject performance in Kenyan national examination s, has revealed apparent compl exity in understanding such concepts in ecology . The study therefore assessed secondary school students‟ understanding of energy flow concepts in the ecosystems at Kenyan ordinary level curriculum . T he study focused on ecology, a subject area taught at for m three study level under the current Kenyan 8 - 4 - 4 education system. The target po pulation was form three students drawn from western Kenya secondary schools. The sample frame was selected from form three student s across secondary schools that had enrolled for examinable biology subject . A descriptive analysis was employed to characterize and determine student s understanding of energy flow and loss in the ecosystem s . Findings from the study revea led result ant generation of alternative outcomes in learning a nd understanding energy flow concepts in ecosystems. Further, it revealed that student‟s conceptualize living organisms as separate individuals which exist in ecosystems . In addition, students could not relate interdependence of several components of an ec osystem such as animals, plants, gases, food and minerals and the amount of energy transferred across trophics.