USE OF FIRST-HAND DATA TO CONSTRUCT KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE SUN-EARTH-MOON SYSTEM

TitleUSE OF FIRST-HAND DATA TO CONSTRUCT KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE SUN-EARTH-MOON SYSTEM
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsUskola, A
JournalJournal of Baltic Science Education
Volume15
Issue3
Start Page298-311
PaginationContinuous
Date PublishedJune/2016
Type of ArticleOriginal article
ISSN1648-3898
Other NumbersICID: 1211240
Keywordsknowledge construction, phases of the Moon, pre-service teachers, use of data
Abstract

Inquiry-based educational contexts including observation of the Moon have been found to facilitate students´ understanding of the Sun-Earth-Moon system. However, the role that the collected data play in the knowledge construction process is unclear, as the process that students develop from the collected data has not previously been reported. Use of data is considered one of the three competencies of scientific literacy, and this research focuses on analysing how eighty four pre-service teachers perform it. A five-level scale has been elaborated. Twenty written group reports and 5 oral data discussion have been analysed. Improvement in the students’ knowledge, especially in areas that had been reported to be problematic, is observed. Results show that the designed activities and group discussions help students take their data into consideration, establish comparisons and identify patterns. However, difficulties in identifying patterns and especially in explaining their causes arise and are discussed. The role of the teacher in the process of establishing the causes of the identified patterns stands out when oral discussions are analysed. Several interventions of the teacher are found to be the key for the students to be able to use the collected data to construct appropriate scientific knowledge.

URLhttp://oaji.net/articles/2016/987-1482422315.pdf
DOI10.33225/jbse/16.15.298
Refereed DesignationRefereed
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