Understanding children's epistemic beliefs in elementary education

Article


Lunn Brownlee, Jo, Curtis, Elizabeth, Spooner-Lane, Rebecca and Feucht, Florian. 2017. "Understanding children's epistemic beliefs in elementary education." Education 3-13: the professional journal for primary education. 45 (2), pp. 191-208. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2015.1069369
Article Title

Understanding children's epistemic beliefs in elementary education

ERA Journal ID20762
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsLunn Brownlee, Jo (Author), Curtis, Elizabeth (Author), Spooner-Lane, Rebecca (Author) and Feucht, Florian (Author)
Journal TitleEducation 3-13: the professional journal for primary education
Journal Citation45 (2), pp. 191-208
Number of Pages18
Year2017
Place of PublicationMilton Park, United Kingdom
ISSN0300-4279
1475-7575
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2015.1069369
Abstract

Research shows that the beliefs individuals hold about knowledge and knowing (epistemic beliefs) influence learning approaches and outcomes. However, little is known about the nature of children’s epistemic beliefs and how best to measure these. In this pilot study, 11 Australian children (in Grade 4 or Grade 6) were asked to ‘draw, write and tell’ about their epistemic beliefs using drawings, written responses and interviews, respectively. Drawings were analysed, with the majority of children depicting external, one-way sources of knowledge. The written statements and interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis, showing that children predominantly described knowledge acquisition as processes of task-based learning. Interviews also enabled children to describe a wider range of views. These results indicate that the methodological combination of ‘draw, write and tell’ allowed for a deeper understanding of the children’s epistemic beliefs which holds implications for future research.

Keywordschildren’s epistemic beliefs; children’s personal epistemology; measurement of epistemic beliefs; draw and write methods
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020390304. Primary education
Public Notes

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

Byline AffiliationsQueensland University of Technology
University of Toledo, United States
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q5v43/understanding-children-s-epistemic-beliefs-in-elementary-education

  • 199
    total views
  • 10
    total downloads
  • 4
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Finding Joy, Meaning and Confidence in Writing: Using Embodied Arts-Based Practices with Children in the Primary Grades
Curtis, Elizabeth, Delaney, Nicole and Watson, Marthy. 2024. "Finding Joy, Meaning and Confidence in Writing: Using Embodied Arts-Based Practices with Children in the Primary Grades." Early Childhood Education Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-024-01811-9
Building personal and relational readiness for collaborative teacher mentoring through the intellectual virtues
Larsen, Ellen, Curtis, Elizabeth, Nguyen, Hoa Thi Mai and Loughland, Tony. 2024. "Building personal and relational readiness for collaborative teacher mentoring through the intellectual virtues." International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMCE-04-2024-0049
“I need more help, but everyone expects me to know it”: perceived mentoring needs of contemporary second-year early career teachers
Curtis, Elizabeth and Larsen, Ellen. 2024. "“I need more help, but everyone expects me to know it”: perceived mentoring needs of contemporary second-year early career teachers." Professional Development in Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2024.2377997
The positioning tensions between early career teachers’ and mentors’ perceptions of the mentor role
Curtis, Elizabeth, Nguyen, Hoa Thi Mai, Larsen, Ellen and Loughland, Tony. 2024. "The positioning tensions between early career teachers’ and mentors’ perceptions of the mentor role." British Educational Research Journal. 50 (3), pp. 1327-1349. https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3974
Philosophical Inquiry and Enhancing Adolescents’ General Reasoning Abilities and Well-Being
Spooner-Lane, Rebecca and Curtis, Elizabeth. 2023. "Philosophical Inquiry and Enhancing Adolescents’ General Reasoning Abilities and Well-Being." Lovat, Terence, Neville, Neville, Toomey, Ron and Dally, Kerry (ed.) Second International Research Handbook on Values Education and Student Wellbeing. Switzerland . Springer. pp. 870-887
Perspectives on teacher standards in the mentoring process: Insights from mentors and early career teachers in an Australian context
Larsen, E., Curtis, E., Nguyen, H.T. and Loughland, T.. 2023. "Perspectives on teacher standards in the mentoring process: Insights from mentors and early career teachers in an Australian context." Educational Review. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131911.2023.2243393
It’s a question of balance: Reconsidering learning partnerships through genuine teacher mentoring conversations
Larsen, Ellen, Nguyen, Hoa T.M., Curtis, Elizabeth and Loughland, Tony. 2023. "It’s a question of balance: Reconsidering learning partnerships through genuine teacher mentoring conversations." Teaching and Teacher Education. 133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2023.104280
Development of a Teaching Performance Assessment in Australia: What did we learn?
Spooner-Lane, Rebecca, Broadley, Tania, Curtis, Elizabeth and Grainger, Peter. 2023. "Development of a Teaching Performance Assessment in Australia: What did we learn?" Australian Journal of Teacher Education. 48 (1). https://doi.org/10.14221/1835-517X.5692
The Subjugation of Art to Propaganda: An Anti-trans Children’s Picture Book and the Culture Wars
Kerby, Martin, Curtis, Elizabeth, Bedford, Alison and Baguley, Margaret. 2022. "The Subjugation of Art to Propaganda: An Anti-trans Children’s Picture Book and the Culture Wars." Australian Art Education. 43 (2), pp. 186-199.
Piloting a new approach to teacher mentoring
Larsen, Ellen, Nguyen, Hoa and Curtis, Elizabeth. 2023. "Piloting a new approach to teacher mentoring." Teacher.
Re-imagining teacher mentoring for the future
Larsen, Ellen, Jensen-Clayton, Cecily, Curtis, Elizabeth, Loughland, Tony and Nguyen, Hoa T. M.. 2023. "Re-imagining teacher mentoring for the future." Professional Development in Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2023.2178480
Teaching perspectives of philosophical inquiry: Changes to secondary teachers' understanding of student learning and pedagogical practices
Curtis, Elizabeth, Lunn Brownlee, Jo and Spooner-Lane, Rebecca. 2020. "Teaching perspectives of philosophical inquiry: Changes to secondary teachers' understanding of student learning and pedagogical practices." Thinking Skills and Creativity. 38, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2020.100711
Preparing teachers to mentor beginning teachers: an Australian case study
Beutel, Denise, Crosswell, Leanne, Willis, Jill, Spooner-Lane, Rebecca, Curtis, Elizabeth and Churchward, Peter. 2017. "Preparing teachers to mentor beginning teachers: an Australian case study." International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education. 6 (3), pp. 164-177. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMC-04-2017-0030
Embracing philosophy and raising the standard of pre-service teacher education programs
Spooner-Lane, Rebecca, Curtis, Elizabeth and Mergler, Amanda. 2010. "Embracing philosophy and raising the standard of pre-service teacher education programs." Lovat, Terence, Toomey, Ron and Clement, Neville (ed.) International research handbook on values education and student wellbeing. Dordrecht, Netherlands. Springer. pp. 377-394
Reviewing the purpose of professional experience: a case study in initial teacher education reform
Curtis, Elizabeth, Martin, Romana and Broadley, Tania. 2019. "Reviewing the purpose of professional experience: a case study in initial teacher education reform." Teaching and Teacher Education. 83 (1), pp. 77-86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2019.03.017
Pre-service teachers' epistemic perspectives about philosophy in the classroom: it is not a bunch of 'hippie stuff'
Brownlee, Joanne, Curtis, Elizabeth, Davey Chesters, Sarah, Cobb-Moore, Charlotte, Spooner-Lane, Rebecca, Whiteford, Chrystal and Tait, Gordon. 2014. "Pre-service teachers' epistemic perspectives about philosophy in the classroom: it is not a bunch of 'hippie stuff'." Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice. 20 (2), pp. 170-188. https://doi.org/10.1080/13540602.2013.848565
Mentors for beginning teachers as middle leaders: the messy work of reconextualising
Willis, Jill, Churchward, Peter, Beutel, Denise, Spooner-Lane, Rebecca and Curtis, Elizabeth. 2019. "Mentors for beginning teachers as middle leaders: the messy work of reconextualising." School Leadership and Management. 39 (3-4), pp. 334-351. https://doi.org/10.1080/136324434.2018.1555701
Teacher educators embrace philosophy: reflections on a new way of looking at preparing pre-service teachers
Mergler, Amanda, Curtis, Elizabeth and Spooner-Lane, Rebecca. 2009. "Teacher educators embrace philosophy: reflections on a new way of looking at preparing pre-service teachers." Australian Journal of Teacher Education. 34 (5), pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2009v34n5.1
Rethinking professional experience through a learning community model: toward a culture change
Broadley, Tania, Martin, Romana and Curtis, Elizabeth. 2019. "Rethinking professional experience through a learning community model: toward a culture change." Frontiers in Education. 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2019.00022
The values dimension of quality teachers: can we prepare pre-service teachers for this?
Curtis, Elizabeth. 2015. "The values dimension of quality teachers: can we prepare pre-service teachers for this?" Athens Journal of Education. 2 (4), pp. 313-330. https://doi.org/10.30958/aje.2-4-2
Play in pre-service teacher education
Curtis, Elizabeth. 2015. "Play in pre-service teacher education." The International Journal of Learning in Higher Education. 22 (4). https://doi.org/10.18848/2327-7955/CGP/v22i04/48628
The heart of quality teaching: a values-based pedagogy for pre-service teacher education
Curtis, Elizabeth. 2012. The heart of quality teaching: a values-based pedagogy for pre-service teacher education. PhD Thesis Doctor of Philosophy. Queensland University of Technology.