Collaborative science activities and the social construction of understanding of physical science concepts by pre-service teachears in Fiji |
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Authors: | Dr Neil Taylor Keith B Lucas James J Watters |
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Institution: | (1) School of Education, University of Leicester, University Road, LE1 7RH Leicester, England;(2) Queensland University of Technology, Qeensland, Australia |
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Abstract: | The research reported was part of a larger study that was founded on the belief that the introduction of a teaching style
informed by a constructivist view of teaching and learning and utilising collaborative group work would improve the understanding
of science concepts held by pre-service primary teacher education studients in Fuji. It sought to test this belief, and to
explore whether such an approach would be effective for students from different ethnic groups. Two intact classes in a teachers'
college studied a physical science unit, one class being involved in extensive collaborative group activities and the other,
the comparison group, being taught in the usual transmissive fashion. An interpretive methodology was adopted, involving a
range of data sources and analytical techniques. Data presented here support the claim that the collaborative group work stimulated
increased levels of discussion and fostered deeper conceptual understanding. There were, however, some unexpected learning
outcomes for some students. Implications for science education in Fiji and similar locations are discussed. |
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Keywords: | |
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