Comparison of teaching and learning concepts network for Mendelian inheritance

In order to improve science education and learning, analysis of the actual field of science education is necessary. The purpose of this study is to investigate the difference between taught curriculum and learned curriculum that appears in the actual field of science education from a conceptual aspect. For this, the concepts presented by the teacher in class and the concept network learned by the students were visualised using Semantic Network Analysis. The learned concept network was analyzed immediately after class and at a follow-up (4 weeks later) to determine the effect of memory. As a result of the study, the concepts of taught curriculum and learned curriculum were similar, but the network structures were different. In other words, there were differences in the connections between concepts. In the taught curriculum, concepts were structured without being divided so that subtopics could be clarified, and as a result, the learned curriculum was also structured without being able to distinguish subtopics. In order to reduce the difference between taught curriculum and learned curriculum, there is a need to connect and teach concepts using intermediate concepts or connections concepts between concepts presented in the intended curriculum. Additionally, students’ prior knowledge influenced the learned curriculum. Therefore, in future research, there is a need to analyze how various factors that affect prior knowledge like shadow education or learner characteristics affect the learned curriculum.