Use of a Movie (Lorenzo's Oil) in Teaching Nature of Science to Preservice Science Teachers

Abstract

Today, learning environments are constantly getting developed and updated to make the teaching-learning process more active. Besides, tools that enhance learning in educational environments are also getting diversified. One of these educational tools is the movies that are based on real life stories. In addition to informing students about several biological topics and issues, the movie called Lorenzo's Oil handles the impact of a neurological disease on the social environment. The movie also informs the audience about science, scientists, scientific process skills and nature of science, and encourages the audience to think and reflect about these issues. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of this movie, which covers a real-life story, on the teaching of science and nature of science elements of teacher candidates. For this purpose, the data of the study were collected through the VNOS-C questionnaire and reflective writings before and after a course in which the movie Lorenzo's Oil was included in the teaching process. At the end of the study, according to the findings obtained from the reflective writings and VNOS-C questionnaire, it was concluded that the views of the pre-service teachers on science and nature of science changed positively, and they were in the knowledgeable category at the end of the process.