Science Literacy Level among 12th Grade Gifted and Normal Science Students at Yemeni High Schools

الملخص

Science Literacy Level among 12th Grade Gifted and Normal Science Students at Yemeni High Schools

The aim of this study was to identify the level of science literacy among 12^th grade gifted and normal students in Yemeni Schools. This aim was achieved through answering the following questions of the study.

1. What was the level of Science Literacy Level among 12th Grade Gifted and Normal Science Students at Yemeni High Schools?

2. Are there significant differences (at p < .05) between means of science literacy levels of gifted students and normal students?

To answer the questions of the study, a test composed of 50 multiple choice questions was developed. Questions of the test were distributed in three dimensions, which are biology sciences, physical and environmental sciences, and nature of science and technology. The final draft of the test has sufficient validity and creditability. Its level of creditability was about % 86.

The sample of the study composed of all gifted students in 12th grade of Almeethaq School (22 male students), all gifted students at Taiz (15 female students), and 35 of first female students at a normal school in Taiz . The normal students were chosen randomly from Sana’a Schools (30 male students and 30 female students). All gifted and normal students answered questions of the instrument in the 2nd semester of the academic year of 2012/ 2013.

The program of SPSS was used to analyze data in the study. Several statistical tools, such as means, SD, t-test, and ANOVA were used to come out with results of the study. The educationally accepted level for science literacy for this study was determined to be at least 50%. The results of the study were as follows:

1. Levels of science literacy among 12th grade gifted students in Sana’a and Taiz Schools was above the level that is educationally.

2. accepted for the instrument as all, and for its dimensions, except the level of male gifted students, which was a little bit bellow the accepted level (49%).

3. Levels of science literacy among 12th grade normal students were below the accepted level for the instrument as all, and for its dimensions.

4. There were significant differences (at p < .05) between means of gifted students and normal students in favor of gifted students.

5. There were significant differences (at p < .05) among means of first female students and gifted male students and normal students in favor of first female students. But differences were not statically significant between first female students and gifted female students.

6. There were significant differences (at p < .05) between means of gifted female students and normal students in favor of gifted female students.

7. There were significant differences (at p < .05) between means of gifted male students and normal students in favor of gifted male students.

8. There were no significant differences (at p < .05) between means of normal male students and normal female students.

Based on the results of the study, the researchers came up with some recommendations, such as reconsidering content and activities in curricula of science, to be enriched with effective activities to help students acquiring knowledge and skills related to science effectively. The study also comes up with some suggestions that help raising awareness of students in public and private schools about problems in local, regional, and global environment.

Key words: Science Literacy, Gifted Students, Normal Students.