Autonomous-Cooperative Approach For Teaching Middle School Physics Experiment In Classes Of Small Scales

Self-motivated, cooperative and exploratory study is recommended by the new Standards of Physics Curriculum for Compulsory Education as a way of improving students’ability to learn and overall scientific literacy. This study explores forms of such study in middle school classes of small scales.An "autonomous-cooperative" approach is proposed according to the characteristics of physics experimental classes. This approach is theoretically founded on theories from constructivist learning, autonomous learning, information processing and development. It features self-motivated learning as a basis and cooperative learning as a tool, with an emphasis of "knowledge and ability","process and method" and "emotion, attitude and values". The structure, procedure and practical strategies of this approach were described. Its essential characteristic was discussed.This approach was experimented over one year period. An overall better academic performance and improved ability in terms of experiment operations, self-study and cooperative-study was observed among students in the experimental classes, compared to students in traditional classes.