Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of case-based learning program on three elementary students' scientific problem solving and attitudes in science class. For this study, case-based learning program was designed for bridging students' scientific knowledge and their personal experiences in real life through 4 stages: understanding the problem, planning for problem solving, conducting problem solving, and making conclusion. This study was carried out through 17 lessons of 4th grade for 6 weeks. The data was collected through close observation on three students in two groups in a class. The results include that cased-based learning program showed overall positive effects on the elementary students' scientific problem solving and attitudes in class. In particular, it turned out that the continuous emphasis of real world examples in case-based learning had powerful impacts on students' problem solving abtsity, motivation, and participation in classroom activities. The key factors to successful problem solving in school science was discussed.

Keywords

• case;
• case-based learning;
• scientific problem solving;
• elementary science