The human body : a website for junior year pupils

Abstract

Previous studies (Gellert, 1962; Osborne et al.) have shown that primary school children hold misconceptions about the human body. In Malta biological knowledge appears to improve as children become older, in year 6, they still have not developed a clear idea of the physiological processes taking place in the body (M. Muscat, 2000). This project is based on the planning and construction of an educational website for children of ages 9- 11. The aim behind this website is to produce a detailed source of information about basic human biology. This website includes various forms of animated illustrations, games and movies that are also made available for download, in the hope that children will become more interested in learning about the subject and motivated when using the website. The final package was then evaluated by a number of students, educators and the science education officer. The reactions, observations, comments and other feedback of those who contributed to my research have proved to be of great help. It was on their suggestion that I improved on what went wrong, and could then rectify accordingly improving the quality of my work. I found the positive comments about the website very encouraging and enlightening. Their positive feedback about the website has shown that my aims for creating this website had been achieved.