Consistent and Inconsistent Pupils' Reasoning about Intensive Quantities: The Case of Density and Pressure

In this research we investigate whether the categorisation of physical quantities into intensive and extensive, according to scientific knowledge, is perceivable and understood by pupils aged 12–15 years. For this purpose we administered written questionnaires to 300 pupils, comprising four tasks for each intensive quantity: density and pressure. The tasks investigate whether pupils realise that intensive quantities do not depend on the amount of the system they refer to and the factors affecting pupils' reasoning and their consistency when studying phenomena involving fluids at rest or in transition. The analysis of responses led us to identify three models of consistent pupils' reasoning. It was also observed that a significant percentage of the pupils provide inconsistent answers, that is, they change their reasoning across tasks and use alternatives to scientific reasoning, influenced by phenomenological features of the tasks. According to our results we propose a number of recommendations, such as the introduction of intermediate teaching/learning steps to be followed as well as suitable experiments to be used towards the acquisition of the scientific model for density and pressure.     

Students’ Alternative Conceptions about Electricity and Effect of Inquiry-Based Teaching Strategies

This study attempted to investigate the alternative conceptions that a group of 12 Lebanese students in a grade 9 class hold about electricity. It also attempted to evaluate learning outcomes of implementing in that class an inquiry-based module for the acquisition of conceptual understanding of basic concepts in electricity. Fourteen mostly subjective tests were administered throughout the implementation phase of the inquiry-based module to assess the evolution of participants’ conceptions. The instrument DIRECT (Version 1.0) focusing on conceptual understanding was used as a post-instructional test to measure acquisition of understanding. The findings revealed that most of the alternative conceptions reported in literature were found amongst the participants. Results of the post-testing showed that the implemented inquiry-based approach was successful in enhancing participants’ conceptual understanding of the targeted DC circuit concepts.     

Learning experimentation through science fairs

Experiments are essential for both doing science and learning science. The aim of the German youth science fair, Jugend forscht, is to encourage scientific thinking and inquiry methods such as experimentation. Based on 57 interviews with participants of the competition, this study summarises students’ conceptions and steps of learning about experimentation, taking into account age disparities. Five distinct subdomains of learning were identified in which learning processes may occur. These subdomains are procedure, purpose, material, control, and time. The three separate age groups used slightly different concepts but all the participants took the same or very similar steps of learning independent of their age. Two main reasons for conceptual developments could be detected: Firstly, the participating students had the opportunity to work using methodology similar to the commonly accepted scientific path of knowledge. Secondly, due to communication processes during the competition, a purposive reflection of their own project was promoted. With respect to different educational levels, experimentation proves to be a complex scientific framework that will be learnt step by step throughout students’ education. We therefore argue for a stronger anchoring of research experiments embedded in open or authentic inquiry to be included in science lessons at school.     

科学探究学习与科学研究的异同性分析与教学设计研究

科学探究学习是一种模仿科学研究的过程,它与科学研究存在着异同性。这种异同性表现在四个方面:在认知过程上具有重演性;在获取知识上具有类似性;在问题解决上具有模拟性;在研究程序上具有简约性。把握这些特性对我们搞好科学探究学习非常重要。     

科学探究教学模式的反思与批判

目前由于人们对探究教学模式的认识存在着简单化倾向,对科学教学产生了负面的影响。主要表现在以下几个方面:囿于经验主义科学观,不能反映科学的本质;把科学教学过程简单等同于科学研究过程,不能反映科学教学过程的本质;强调做科学,忽视学科学,不利于对概念的深层理解;教学操作方法单一化与模式化,不利于学生理解科学的本质。     

刍议科学探究与物理教学

科学探究是新课程理念提出的卓有成效的教学方式.文章从科学探究的含义出发,挖掘其研究的理论依据,论述了科学探究的过程和设计策略,以教学案例为基础,讨论了如何在物理教学中实施科学探究.     

中美大学生科学推理能力差异的调查研究

通过对中美两国大学生科学推理能力测试数据研究分析,发现两国大学生科学推理总平均成绩虽然近乎相同,但在不同题目维度上和推理方法上却存在一定的差异。中国学生更擅长与计算和专业知识相关的推理,而美国学生在观察实验、分析证据方面占优势。     

高师理科教学与学生科学推理能力的培养

科学推理能力是理科师范生应具备的一种重要能力.用 "Lawson科学推理能力测试量表(LCTSR)"对四所师范院校理科学生进行测试,结果显示理科学生科学推理测试成绩普遍偏低;测查的7个能力维度水平发展不均衡,其中高级控制变量推理能力最低;能力维度得分与院校存在显著相关性但与专业和年级的相关性不显著,这表明师范院校理科教学对提高学生科学推理能力作用不明显.为此,结合理科教学现状进行深入分析了原因并提出理科教学改革的建议.     

新课程实施背景下对科学探究的再认识与思考

在开展和深化基础教育课程改革过程中,科学探究成为实施和研究的重要环节,根据实施过程中对科学探究应用和理解出现的一些问题和现象,在与国内外科学教育专家交流和研讨的基础上,以化学学科教学为例,试图从学科知识体系特征、学习情境与过程和探究式学习方式角度去分析,即建立在宏观现象水平、微观粒子水平和符号表征水平三个层次上对化学概念的理解;重视设计学习情境和途径来促进概念的应用与转化;增进对科学探究本质过程的理解,达到更加深入地领会科学探究进入科学教育的主体过程的必然性与可操作性,以期加快教师观念的转变与实践能力的提高。     

The conceptual change approach to improving teaching and learning: An evaluation of a Hong Kong staff development programme

This paper reports a study ofthe effectiveness of an innovative approach tostaff development, the conceptual changeapproach, which attempts to change teachers'frameworks for conceptualising teaching andlearning. The evaluation investigated theprogramme at three levels: the impact on theconceptions of teaching of the participants,the resultant impact on teaching practices, andthe consequential effect on student learning.Encouraging results were obtained. Theprogramme brought about detectable conceptualchange or conceptual development in two-thirdsof the sample group. Subsequently, all the`changed' teachers received better ratings ontheir teaching practices from their students inthe following academic year while none of thosewho did not change their conceptions showedsimilar gains in student rating scores. Aresultant positive impact on their students'studying approaches was observed for half ofthe teachers who changed their conceptions.     

Facilitating Chemistry Teachers’ Understanding of Alternative Interpretations of Conceptual Change

Historians and philosophers of science have recognized the importance of controversies in the progress of science. The objective of this study was to facilitate in-service chemistry teachers’ understanding of conceptual change based on alternative philosophical interpretations (controversies). Selected controversies formed part of the chemistry curriculum both at secondary and university freshman level. The study is based on 17 in-service teachers who had registered for all week course on “Investigation in the Teaching of Chemistry” as part of their Master’s degree program. The course is based on 17 readings drawing on a history and philosophy of science perspective with special reference to controversial episodes. Course activities included written reports, class room discussions based on participants’ presentations, and written exams. A major finding of this study is that most teachers went through an experience that involved: inconsistencies, conflicts, contradictions, and finally some degree of conceptual change. A few of the participants resisted any change, but still raised important issues with respect to conceptual change. Some of the educational implications are: a) Similar to a scientist, a student can live with two rival theories simultaneously and as the student enriches his cognitive repertoire the conflict can perhaps be resolved; b) Resolution of a conflict may not follow a logical pattern of reasoning but rather a slow process (based on motivational, intuitive, and affective factors) in which the hardcore of beliefs slowly crumbles; c) In science there is no absolute truth, nor a scientific method and consequently there cannot be rules, methods, algorithms, or pre-determined steps for introducing conceptual change; d) Teachers’ epistemological outlook is crucial in order to facilitate conceptual change.     

馆校结合提升学生科学探究能力的现实与反思

如今科学教育中,针对学生科学探究能力的发展,存在着学校教育缺少实践与教学资源、科技馆教育师资与展品效用不足的教育现状。立足馆校结合,以如何有效提高学生的科学探究能力为主体,从理念、师资、课程与资源四个方面探讨了在馆校结合中提升科学探究能力的策略与途径。     

学生的科学探究能力:国外的研究及启示

当前的科学课程改革对学生的科学探究能力提出了要求,这是我国的科学教育研究者和广大教师面临的一个新课题。西方发达国家在20世纪下半叶的科学课程改革中就开始进行有关的研究和实践,有三种主要的教学和研究模型及实践结果可供我们借鉴。这些研究结果表明,科学探究能力是一种具有复杂结构的高层次能力,对科学探究能力的培养不能简单化和程式化。我们应当在借鉴有关研究成果的基础上,把握科学探究的本质特征,采用复杂性科学的研究方法,建立适当的教学和研究模型,从理论和实践两方面开展深入研究。     

Evidentiary Competence: Sixth Graders'' Understanding for Gathering and Interpreting Evidence in Scientific Investigations

With the growing emphasis on the development of scientific inquiry skills, there is a strong need for more research on students' ability to collect and interpret evidence. This paper calls attention to the notion of evidentiary competence that refers to the concepts and reasoning skills involved in the collection, organization, and interpretation of data. We proposed a set of concepts and skills involved in evidentiary competence and examined sixth of them—the priority, relevancy, objectivity, replicability of evidence, and the interpretation of examples and tables—using a written instrument contextualized in atmospheric science. Analyses of 40 sixth grade students' answers and explanations revealed that their understanding of scientific evidence and the data collection process was quite weak in several respects. For example, many students neither appreciated the role of empirical evidence in scientific inquiry, nor distinguished relevant evidence from irrelevant evidence, nor understood the importance of reliable and objective observations, nor interpreted examples and tables appropriately. Results suggest that more explicit instructions are needed in order to strengthen students' ability to collect and interpret data, especially in the current data rich information age.     

Teacher use of evidence to customize inquiry science instruction

This study investigated how professional development featuring evidence‐based customization of technology‐enhanced curriculum projects can improve inquiry science teaching and student knowledge integration in earth science. Participants included three middle school sixth‐grade teachers and their classes of students (N = 787) for three consecutive years. Teachers used evidence from their student work to revise the curriculum projects and rethink their teaching strategies. Data were collected through teacher interviews, written reflections, classroom observations, curriculum artifacts, and student assessments. Results suggest that the detailed information about the learning activities of students provided by the assessments embedded in the online curriculum motivated curricular and pedagogical customizations that resulted in both teacher and student learning. Customizations initiated by teachers included revisions of embedded questions, additions of hands‐on investigations, and modifications of teaching strategies. Student performance improved across the three cohorts of students with each year of instructional customization. Coupling evidence from student work with revisions of curriculum and instruction has promise for strengthening professional development and improving science learning. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 47: 1037–1063, 2010     

科技伦理的存在理据及应有维度

科学技术在生产、生活中正反两个方面的作用越来越大，科技伦理日益成为人们关注的话题。认真剖析科技伦理存在之依据及其内在维度，探讨如何在科技实践中贯彻科技伦理之精神，无疑对于人类社会可持续发展有着极其重要的意义。