A study of teachers' perspectives about using multimodal representations of concepts to enhance science learning

Article

Prain, Vaughan and Waldrip, Bruce. 2008. "A study of teachers' perspectives about using multimodal representations of concepts to enhance science learning ." Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education. 8 (1), pp. 5-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/14926150802152152
Article Title

A study of teachers' perspectives about using multimodal representations of concepts to enhance science learning

ERA Journal ID20753
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsPrain, Vaughan (Author) and Waldrip, Bruce (Author)
Journal TitleCanadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education
Journal Citation8 (1), pp. 5-24
Number of Pages20
Year2008
Place of PublicationUnited States, Canada
ISSN1492-6156
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/14926150802152152
Web Address (URL)http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a902185404~db=jour~order=page
Abstract

[Abstract]: This paper reports on a study that aims to devise, trial, and evaluate teaching and learning strategies to improve students’ learning of science in the middle years in schools in regional Australia through a focus on multiple and multi-modal representations of science concepts. ‘Multiple’ representations refers to the practice of re-representing the same concept in different forms, including verbal, graphic and numerical modes, as well as repeated student exposures to the same concept. ‘Multi-modal’ refers to the integration of different modes within the same text to represent scientific reasoning and findings. Initially, 20 teachers were surveyed about their planning and usage of different representational modes. The findings of this survey indicated that these teachers tended to focus on resources and students’ learning styles rather than modal variation, sometimes confusing modes and resources. Few teachers expected students to be able to represent the same concept in different modes as part of understanding science.
In this paper we report in detail the beliefs and practices of two elementary teachers from the original survey who had a strong commitment to the use of modal variety for learning science. The interviewed teachers perceived that a framework that emphasized representational diversity provided a more systematic way to focus on (a) target concepts to be learnt, and (b) the development of a richer learning context that promotes engagement for student across a broad ability range.

Keywordsscience; perceptions; representation; concept
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020390307. Teacher education and professional development of educators
390113. Science, technology and engineering curriculum and pedagogy
390409. Learning sciences
Public Notes

Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions.

Byline AffiliationsLa Trobe University
Faculty of Education
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/9ywy0/a-study-of-teachers-perspectives-about-using-multimodal-representations-of-concepts-to-enhance-science-learning

Log in to edit
  • 2271
    total views
  • 7
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Student teachers' perceptions of science learning
Knight, Bruce Allen and Waldrip, Bruce G.. 2009. "Student teachers' perceptions of science learning ." Acta Ciencia Indica: Mathematics. 10 (1), pp. 5-9.
Students' perceptions of assessment process: questionnaire
Waldrip, Bruce G., Fisher, Darrell L. and Dorman, Jeffrey P.. 2008. "Students' perceptions of assessment process: questionnaire." Fisher, Darrell, Koul, Rekha and Wanpen, Supatra (ed.) 5th International Conference on Science, Mathematics and Technology Education 2008: Science Mathematics and Technology Education: Beyond Cultural Boundaries. Udon Thani, Thailand 16 - 19 Jan 2008 Perth, Australia.
Classroom environment, students' perceptions of assessment, academic efficacy and attitude to science: a LISREL analysis
Dorman, Jeff, Fisher, Darrell L. and Waldrip, Bruce. 2006. "Classroom environment, students' perceptions of assessment, academic efficacy and attitude to science: a LISREL analysis." Fisher, Darrell L. and Khine, Myint Swe (ed.) Contemporary approaches to research on learning environments: worldviews. Hackensack, NJ, United States. World Scientific Publishing. pp. 1-28
Students' dilemmas in reaction stoichiometry problem solving: deducing the limiting reagent in chemical reactions
Chandrasegaran, A. L., Treagust, David F., Waldrip, Bruce G. and Chandrasegaran, Antonia. 2009. "Students' dilemmas in reaction stoichiometry problem solving: deducing the limiting reagent in chemical reactions ." Chemistry Education Research and Practice. 10 (1), pp. 14-23. https://doi.org/10.1039/B901456J
Classroom environment, students' perceptions of assessment, academic efficacy and attitude to science: a LISREL analysis
Dorman, Jeff, Waldrip, Bruce and Fisher, Darrell L.. 2006. "Classroom environment, students' perceptions of assessment, academic efficacy and attitude to science: a LISREL analysis." NARST 2006 Annual Meeting: Learning Science in Formal and Informal Contexts. San Francisco, United States 03 - 06 Apr 2006 Reston, VA, USA.
Primary teachers' interpersonal behaviour and cultural elements of the classroom environment
Fisher, Darrell L., Waldrip, Bruce and den Brok, Perry. 2006. "Primary teachers' interpersonal behaviour and cultural elements of the classroom environment." Fisher, Darrell L., Zandvliet, David, Gaynor, Ian and Koul, Rekha (ed.) 4th International Conference on Science, Mathematics and Technology Education: Sustainable Communities and Sustainable Environments: Envisioning a Role for Science, Mathematics and Technology Education. Victoria, Canada 25 - 28 Aug 2005 Perth, WA.
Changing representations to learn primary science concepts
Waldrip, Bruce and Prain, Vaughan. 2006. "Changing representations to learn primary science concepts." Teaching Science: The Journal of the Australian Science Teachers Association. 52 (4), pp. 17-21.
Representation and learning in science
Prain, Vaughan and Waldrip, Bruce. 2009. "Representation and learning in science." Ritchie, Stephen M. (ed.) World of science education: handbook of research in Australasia. Rotterdam, Netherlands. Sense Publishers. pp. 69-84
Using the Student Perceptions of Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) to develop an assessment typology for science classes
Dorman, Jeffrey P., Waldrip, Bruce G. and Fisher, Darrell L.. 2008. "Using the Student Perceptions of Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) to develop an assessment typology for science classes." Journal of Science Education. 1 (9), pp. 13-17.
Using representations for teaching and learning in science
Carolan, Jim, Prain, Vaughan and Waldrip, Bruce. 2008. "Using representations for teaching and learning in science ." Teaching Science: The Journal of the Australian Science Teachers Association. 54 (1), pp. 18-23.
Student perceptions of teacher-student interpersonal behaviour and cultural factors of learning environment in metropolitan and country schools
Waldrip, Bruce, Fisher, Darrell L. and Dorman, Jeff. 2007. "Student perceptions of teacher-student interpersonal behaviour and cultural factors of learning environment in metropolitan and country schools ." Education in Rural Australia. 17 (2), pp. 37-54.
Identifying exemplary science teachers through students' perceptions of their learning environment
Waldrip, Bruce, Fisher, Darrell L. and Dorman, Jeff. 2009. "Identifying exemplary science teachers through students' perceptions of their learning environment." Learning Environments Research. 12 (1), pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-008-9049-0
Changing primary students' perceptions of teacher interpersonal behaviours in science
Waldrip, B., Reene, Paula, Fisher, Darrell and Dorman, Jeff. 2008. "Changing primary students' perceptions of teacher interpersonal behaviours in science." Research in Science Education. 38 (2), pp. 213-235. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-007-9045-x
Learning junior secondary science through multi-modal representation
Waldrip, Bruce, Prain, Vaughan and Carolan, Jim. 2006. "Learning junior secondary science through multi-modal representation." Electronic Journal of Science Education. 11 (1), pp. 86-105.
Pedagogical principles in negotiating cultural conflict: a Melanesian example
Waldrip, Bruce, Timothy, Joe and Wilikai, Wilson. 2007. "Pedagogical principles in negotiating cultural conflict: a Melanesian example." International Journal of Science Education. 29 (1), pp. 101-122. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690600718195
Upper secondary Bruneian science students’ perceptions of assessment
Dhindsa, Harkirat S., Omar, Khalid and Waldrip, Bruce. 2007. "Upper secondary Bruneian science students’ perceptions of assessment." International Journal of Science Education. 29 (10), pp. 1261-1280. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690600991149
An exploratory study of teachers’ and students’ use of multi-modal representations of concepts in primary science
Prain, Vaughan and Waldrip, Bruce. 2006. "An exploratory study of teachers’ and students’ use of multi-modal representations of concepts in primary science." International Journal of Science Education. 28 (15), pp. 1843-1866. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690600718294
Windows into practice: constructing effective science teaching and learning in a school change initiative
Tytler, Russell, Waldrip, Bruce and Griffiths, Michelle. 2004. "Windows into practice: constructing effective science teaching and learning in a school change initiative." International Journal of Science Education. 26 (2), pp. 171-194. https://doi.org/10.1080/0950069032000097370
Identifying exemplary science teachers through their classroom interactions with students
Waldrip, Bruce and Fisher, Darrell L.. 2003. "Identifying exemplary science teachers through their classroom interactions with students." Learning Environments Research. 6 (2), pp. 157-174. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024991019271
Students' perceptions of primary teachers' interpersonal behaviour and of cultural dimensions in the classroom environment
Fisher, Darrell L., Waldrip, Bruce and den Brok, Perry. 2005. "Students' perceptions of primary teachers' interpersonal behaviour and of cultural dimensions in the classroom environment." International Journal of Educational Research. 43 (1-2), pp. 25-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2006.03.004
Students' perceptions of classroom interactions and their understanding of primary science concepts
Waldrip, Bruce, Fisher, Darrell L. and Dorman, Jeff. 2005. "Students' perceptions of classroom interactions and their understanding of primary science concepts." Pinto, Roser and Couso, Digna (ed.) ESERA 2005. Barcelona, Spain 28 Aug - 01 Sep 2005 Barcelona, Spain.
Student perceptions of assessment: questionnaire development and validation
Waldrip, Bruce, Fisher, Darrell L. and Dorman, Jeff. 2005. "Student perceptions of assessment: questionnaire development and validation." Shymansky, Jim, Tillotson, John, Staver, John and Richmond, Gail (ed.) NARST 2005 Annual Meeting. Dallas, United States 04 - 07 Apr 2005 Dallas, USA.
Cultural learning environments, attitudes, teacher-student interactions, and students' understanding of primary science concepts
Waldrip, Bruce, Fisher, Darrell L. and Dorman, Jeff. 2005. "Cultural learning environments, attitudes, teacher-student interactions, and students' understanding of primary science concepts." Shymansky, Jim, Tillotson, John, Staver, John and Richmond, Gail (ed.) NARST 2005 Annual Meeting. Dallas, United States 04 - 07 Apr 2005 Dallas, USA.
Teachers' perspectives on using multi-modal and multiple representations of concepts to enhance student learning in science
Prain, Vaughan and Waldrip, Bruce. 2005. "Teachers' perspectives on using multi-modal and multiple representations of concepts to enhance student learning in science." Pinto, Roser and Couso, Digna (ed.) ESERA 2005. Barcelona, Spain 28 Aug - 01 Sep 2005 Barcelona, Spain.
Village elders' and secondary school students' explanations of natural phenomena in Papua New Guinea
Pauka, Soikava, Treagust, David F. and Waldrip, Bruce. 2005. "Village elders' and secondary school students' explanations of natural phenomena in Papua New Guinea." International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education. 3 (2), pp. 213-238. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-004-6529-2