Section 1 - About Workshop One:
"Eliciting Student Ideas"
What is the theme of this workshop? The theme of Workshop One
is "Eliciting Student Ideas."
Whom do we see in the videotape? We see several Harvard students
and faculty who are enormously confused about what causes the seasons. We
also see Heather, an articulate, intelligent high school student who has
a great many ideas about astronomy. Interviews with Heather both before
and after her classroom lessons about astronomy reveal that she has learned
much but is still confused about some key aspects of the subject.
What happens in the videotape? While some of Heather's ideas after
instruction are solid, others seem wildly "off base" from a scientist's
point of view. Some of her ideas stubbornly resist change, either in the
classroom or during on-camera challenges.
What problem does this workshop address? Many of us think that
the cause of the seasons has something to do with our distance from the
sun, even though this "wrong idea" was never taught to us. Why
is it we seem to learn some things that teachers don't teach us?
What teaching strategy does this workshop offer? Many techniques
for eliciting student ideas have been tested in the classroom. Interviews
with students, poster presentations, prediction questions, group discussions,
and journal keeping are some of the most common approaches. This workshop
will address interviewing techniques and journal keeping.
Section 2 - "Eliciting Student Ideas"
A. The Goals for Workshop One
"Eliciting Student Ideas" is for teachers who are interested
in the ways that prior beliefs profoundly affect students' abilities to
learn new ideas. Even though this workshop focuses on A Private Universe,
which presents a high-school student's ideas about astronomy, teachers of
all subjects and all grade levels will gain new insights into learning in
the classroom.
Pre-Workshop Activity
Prior to this workshop, workshop participants should spend 15
minutes interviewing a student and an adult about what causes the changes
in the seasons. Record their responses. Did you discover some good ways
to uncover students' ideas? Explain.
B. Challenges
One of the newly-minted Harvard graduates states in the opening moments
of A Private Universe that she has gotten "very far" without
studying or understanding the subjects of our questions. One of the unintended
results of the video has been the "so what" reaction from some
viewers.
Clearly, this understanding is important for the tiny minority of students
headed for careers in astronomy or meteorology, but how can this understanding
benefit the rest of the class?
Discuss ways to solve the following problems with any or all of the six
science subjects you will encounter in the following weeks:
Workshop Activity
Is understanding the causes of the seasons or lunar phases important
in the lives of students?
Why is an understanding of basic scientific principles important
for all citizens?
What are some surprising ways in which a good science understanding
can enhance the abilities of non-scientists to perform their work and live
their lives?
(For example: Could chemical understanding affect the work of
professional cooks and homemakers; could understanding weather and fluid
dynamics help make better airline pilots and sailors; and could understanding
how plants make food affect anyone who gardens?)
What are some examples of important social or political issues
that require a scientific understanding by voters and policy makers?
(For example: Would knowledge of science be important for understanding
toxic waste, screening for genetic diseases, global warming, or energy
conservation issues?)
Section 3 - Exercises
A. Responding to Workshop One
Eliciting student ideas is an important way that teachers can become
familiar with what their students think.
Workshop Discussion
Many people in education are now using the terms "constructivist"
and "constructivism."
Have you heard of these terms? What do these terms mean to you?
Write down your brief definitions (not the dictionary's).
There are many "wild" ideas in a classroom: what should
or can a teacher do?
Devise your own personal strategy for eliciting student ideas
in the classroom.
B. Exercise: Preparing for Workshop Two
You will get the greatest benefit from Workshop Two if you complete the
following exercise. Interview students, family members, and/or colleagues
about their ideas concerning the following question; then record responses
and share with others.
Pre-Workshop Activity for Workshop Two
Where does the stuff making up the weight of dry wood come from?
Ask interviewees to estimate percentages if they refer to more
than one source.
Section 4 - Educational Stategy
What is the purpose of keeping a journal?
Keeping a journal is a time-honored way of documenting one's personal
thoughts. Styles of journal keeping include the personal or general journal
and the content-specific journal.
Using a journal for science education is a strategy for both the teacher
and student to gain insight into the student's understanding and learning
process. In a journal for science learning, students can record predictions,
observations, explanations, and questions about things that puzzle them.
Because it is a personal and private communication, a journal allows
the student to honestly reflect and speculate on her/his daily classroom
experiences and monitor her/his own learning. For the teacher, the journal
becomes a valuable tool for ascertaining the student's prior knowledge and
understanding, for identifying any alternative ideas a student might have,
and for monitoring the student's progress in the learning process.
Tips to share with your students
The personal narrative style is probably the most comfortable for most
students. It allows them to "talk" in the journal, using their
own vocabulary, expressions, and personal codes.
It is important that the teacher who reviews the journal be nonjudgmental-never
"correcting" what the student is saying or how it is stated. Be
reflective about the student's ideas.
The teacher should be on the alert for questions that puzzle the student.
It is there that the teacher can gain an insight into what is or is not
working and where the student might need to explore further.
When the teacher makes comments, he/she should make them on paper that
can be removed, like post-its. Never write on the actual journal paper.
Ask the student to write on only one topic at a time. This will give
the student something on which to focus without restricting the creativity
and expression of the student.
Students will have their own personal ways of interpreting the events
of the day, structuring their journals in a way that fits their styles.
Allow individuality and creativity to shine through in this exercise. The
teacher should take her/his cues from the students in identfying what works
best for them.
Here are some suggestions on how to encourage students to begin their
journal entries. Ask students to write:
"I wonder..."
"I learned..."
"My questions about this are..."
"I'd like to try..."
"My best thinking at this point is..."
"I was puzzled by..."
"I disagree with..."
Section 5 - Resources for Workshop One
Disclaimer
Companies, publications, and organizations named in this guide represent
a cross-section of such entities. We do not endorse any companies, publications,
or organizations, nor should any endorsement be inferred from a listing
in this guide. Descriptions of such entities are for reference purposes
only. We have provided this information to help locate materials and information:
if you know of a supplier, publication, or organization that you think should
be listed, please contact the editors so that the information can be included
in future versions of this guide.
A. Materials For The Classroom
Novak, Joseph D. and D. Bob Gowin. 1984. Learning How to Learn.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Distribution center: 1-800-872-7423.
A Private Universe-written, produced, and directed by Matthew
Schneps-can be obtained from The Annenberg Media Collection by calling 1-800-532-7637.
B. Further Reading
Coyle, H.P., B. Gregory, W.M. Luzader, P.M. Sadler, and I.I. Shapiro.
1993. Project STAR: The Universe in Your Hands. Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt
Publishing Company.
Duckworth, Eleanor. 1987. The Having of Wonderful Ideas. New York:
Teachers College Press.
Banks, D.A. 1994. "Earth, Sun, and Moon: A Moving Experience."
Science Scope 17(4): 36-40.
Lightman, A. and P. Sadler. 1988. "The Earth is round? Who are you
kidding?" Science and Children 25(5): 24-26.
Yager, Robert E. 1991. "The constructivist learning model."
The Science Teacher 58(9): 52-57.
C. Bibliography for Eliciting Student Ideas
Books
Driver, Rosalind, Edith Guesne, and Andrée Tiberghien, eds. 1992.
Children's Ideas in Science. Philadelphia: Open University Press.
Novak, Joseph D. and D. Bob Gowin. 1984. Learning How to Learn.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Tobin, K. and D. Tippins. 1993. "Constructivism as a Referent for
Teaching and Learning." In The Practice of Constructivism in Science
Education, K. Tobin, ed. Washington, DC: AAAS Press.
Journals
Good, R.G. and A.E. Lawson, eds. 1993. "Special Issue: The Role
of Analogy in Science and Science Teaching." Journal of Research
in Science Teaching 10(30).
Articles
Baxter, J. 1989. "Children's understanding of familiar astronomical
events." International Journal of Science Education 11: 502-513.
Clement, J. 1993. "Using bridging analogies and anchoring intuitions
to deal with students' preconceptions in Physics." Journal of Research
in Science Teaching 30(10): 1241-1259.
Gilbert, J. R. Osborne and P. Fensham. 1982. "Children's science
and its consequences for teaching." Science Education 66(4):
623-633.
Nussbaum, J. 1979. "Children's conception of the Earth as a cosmic
body: a cross-age study." Science Education 63: 83-93.
Treagust, D.F. and C.L. Smith. 1989. "Secondary students' understanding
of gravity and the motion of planets." School Science and Mathematics
89(5): 380-391.
