Knowledge about fungal biology and ecology topics

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Published: Apr 3, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/codiste.7799
Keywords:
fungi mental models microbes misconceptions thematic analysis
Dimitris Chalkidis
University of Ioannina
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5643-3003
Evangelia Mavrikaki
Abstract

The current study is presenting high school and university students’ knowledge about fungal biology and ecology. Data were collected through interviews and analysed via thematic analysis. Fungi are considered as microbes related to humidity, causing ‘problems’, or constantly ‘spreading’. Mushrooms are considered as fungi or ‘weird’ plants and moulds are considered as single microbes or clusters of microbes. Fungi are thought to live in dirty, dusty, or humid places, in soil, or on plants. Their ecological role is interpreted in relation to the ‘Balance in Nature’ or food chains. Several perceived fungal attributes draw from general mental models of microbes.

Article Details
  • Section
  • 14th Panhellenic Conference of Didactics in Science Education
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References
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