Using the Practices of Science in Elementary Schoolyard Inquiry Investigations

The goal of this study was to explore how elementary students engage with and make sense of the practices of science when involved in authentic scientific investigations guided by student-generated questions. Since communication and collaborative work are inherent in the practice of science, the study used students’ in and out-of-class interactions and discourses to understand more about how elementary students engaged in the practices of science (PoS). Whole-class discussion, small-group discussion, and written artifacts were analyzed using qualitative methods to discover the types of discussions students engaged in, the levels of the rigor of the discussions, and the purposes of the different contexts for the enactment of the practices (Kelly, 2014). In order to answer the research questions related to elementary students’ ways of participating in various practices of science (PoS) such as observation, experimentation, argumentation, and collaboration, the researcher used qualitative case study methods. These methods included in-and-out-of-call observations, student artifacts, audio recordings of students’ conversations and discourses during peer-to-peer, whole class, and student-teacher interactions, and informal conversations with students and the teacher. The data were analyzed using constant comparative methods whereby generating themes that captured broad as well as specific nature of ways in which students and teacher interacted with PoS. The analysis of the data showed that peer-to-peer discussion was central to inquiry pedagogy and learning and practicing the PoS for understanding science. The students benefitted from models of PoS to both get familiarized with the PoS and later replicate those in their learning. Similarly, small group interactions seemed to provide more opportunities for students to speak and use the language of science in a non-threatening environment. This environment allowed for students to share their ideas more openly and frequently. This research would contribute in the areas of student engagement in science practices, teacher’s role in promoting PoS in science teaching and learning, curriculum development with a focus on PoS, and linking citizen science with PoS to improve everyday understandings of science. Additionally, this study could add to the understanding of the importance of local problems as authentic local contexts to learn about PoS including the skills of design solutions. The broader impact of this study may be in student involvement in citizen science projects, local environmental justice projects, and school community projects.

Author dc:creator

• Hedenstrom, Mary Norell

• Inquiry
• Practices of Science
• schoolyard investigations
• science discourse

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11299/209073

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:conservancy.umn.edu:11299/209073