Introducing Iranian primary children to atoms and molecules

Article

Baji, Fatima and Haeusler, Carole. 2022. "Introducing Iranian primary children to atoms and molecules." Research in Science Education. 52 (4), pp. 1387-1418. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-021-10008-8
Article Title

Introducing Iranian primary children to atoms and molecules

ERA Journal ID20613
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsBaji, Fatima (Author) and Haeusler, Carole (Author)
Journal TitleResearch in Science Education
Journal Citation52 (4), pp. 1387-1418
Number of Pages32
Year2022
Place of PublicationNetherlands
ISSN0157-244X
1573-1898
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-021-10008-8
Web Address (URL)https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11165-021-10008-8
Abstract

In common with many other countries, the Iranian science curriculum does not introduce primary children to atoms and molecules but instead leaves the teaching of these concepts until high school. This paper challenges this practice and describes the changes in elementary Iranian children’s understanding of atoms and molecules following a 10-h teaching intervention about basic atomic-molecular theory, derived from recently published Australian research. The participants involved in this study are a group of 25 Iranian children aged 9 to 12 years old, who participated in a vacation summer school where they were taught about the structure of atoms and molecules. Thematic and content analysis of children’s written responses and drawings before and after the intervention
reveal significant changes in their conceptual thinking. The results also show the extent to which the children can generate microscopic representations of the states of matter from their understanding of atoms and molecules.

KeywordsIran; primary children; conceptual understanding; atoms and molecules; states of matter
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020390304. Primary education
390113. Science, technology and engineering curriculum and pedagogy
Public Notes

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

Byline AffiliationsAhvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Iran
School of Education
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q67z8/introducing-iranian-primary-children-to-atoms-and-molecules

Log in to edit
  • 149
    total views
  • 12
    total downloads
  • 2
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

A narrative review exploring the attitudes of nursing and complementary medicine students and practitioners toward biosciences curricula
Yeeles, J., Whiteside, E., Haeusler, C., Donovan, J. and Myer, S.. 2024. "A narrative review exploring the attitudes of nursing and complementary medicine students and practitioners toward biosciences curricula." Journal of Further and Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2024.2410972
Bridging the digital divide: gender and learning mode impacts on pre-service teacher digital competence and online engagement
Getenet, Seyum, Haeusler, Carole, Redmond, Petrea, Cantle, Robert and Crouch, Vanessa. 2024. "Bridging the digital divide: gender and learning mode impacts on pre-service teacher digital competence and online engagement." Irish Educational Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/03323315.2024.2359694
First-year Preservice Teachers’ Understanding of Digital Technologies and Their Digital Literacy, Efficacy, Attitude, and Online Learning Engagement: Implication for Course Design
Getenet, Seyum, Haeusler, Carole, Redmond, Petrea, Cantle, Robert and Crouch, Vanessa. 2024. "First-year Preservice Teachers’ Understanding of Digital Technologies and Their Digital Literacy, Efficacy, Attitude, and Online Learning Engagement: Implication for Course Design." Technology, Knowledge and Learning. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-023-09724-z
A Custom-Made Board Game to Familiarise Primary School Children with Atoms
Dumin, Michael B., Cermak-Sassenrath, Daniel, Haeusler, Carole and Smets, Ilse. 2022. "A Custom-Made Board Game to Familiarise Primary School Children with Atoms." 16th European Conference on Games Based Learning (2022). Lisbon, Portugal 06 - 07 Oct 2022 Curtis Farm, United Kingdom.
Children versus curriculum: who wins?
Haeusler, Carole, Donovan, Jennifer and Venville, Grady. 2020. "Children versus curriculum: who wins?" Donovan, Jennifer, Trimmer, Karen and Flegg, Nicholas (ed.) Curriculum, schooling and applied research: challenges and tensions for researchers. Cham, Switzerland. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 143-164
More than coding: Positioning STEM education in practice
Fitzgerald, Angela, Haeusler, Carole and Pfeiffer, Linda. 2020. "More than coding: Positioning STEM education in practice." Fitzgerald, Angela, Haeusler, Carole and Pfeiffer, Linda (ed.) STEM Education in Primary Classrooms: Unravelling Contemporary Approaches in Australia and New Zealand. Abingdon, United Kingdom. Routledge. pp. 1-11
Developing information literacy skills of the 6th grade students using the Big6 model
Baji, Fatima, Bigdeli, Zahed, Parsa, Abdullah and Haeusler, Carole. 2018. "Developing information literacy skills of the 6th grade students using the Big6 model." Malaysian Journal of Library and Information Science. 23 (1), pp. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.22452/mjlis.vol23no1.1
Challenging the Science Curriculum Paradigm: TeachingPrimary Children Atomic-Molecular Theory
Haeusler, Carole and Donovan, Jennifer. 2020. "Challenging the Science Curriculum Paradigm: TeachingPrimary Children Atomic-Molecular Theory." Research in Science Education. 50 (1), pp. 23-52. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-017-9679-2
Searching for scientific Mozarts: get em' while they're young
Donovan, Jennifer, Haeusler, Carole and Stewart, Ian. 2013. "Searching for scientific Mozarts: get em' while they're young." The Conversation. 18 June 2013, pp. 1-4.
Incorporating student response systems in mathematics classes
Lozanovski, Con, Haeusler, Carole and Tobin, Patrick. 2011. "Incorporating student response systems in mathematics classes." Hannah, John and Thomas, Mike (ed.) 8th Southern Hemisphere Conference on Teaching and Learning of Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics: The Long Abiding Path of Knowledge. Rotorua, New Zealand 27 Nov - 02 Dec 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand.
Developing scientific literacy: introducing primary aged children to atomic-molecular theory
Donovan, Jennifer and Haeusler, Carole. 2015. "Developing scientific literacy: introducing primary aged children to atomic-molecular theory." de Silva, Eugene (ed.) Cases on research-based teaching methods in science education. Hershey, PA. United States. IGI Global. pp. 30-63
Putting the 'E' into STEM [Keynote speaker]
Bullen, Frank and Haeusler, Carole. 2010. "Putting the 'E' into STEM [Keynote speaker]." Hudson, Peter, Vinesh, Chandra, King, Donna and Kar-Tin, Lee (ed.) 1st Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in Education Conference (STEM 2010). Brisbane, Australia 26 - 27 Nov 2010 Brisbane, Australia.
Examining the curriculum and assessment framework of the Australian curriculum: science
Haeusler, Carole. 2013. "Examining the curriculum and assessment framework of the Australian curriculum: science." Curriculum Perspectives. 33 (1), pp. 15-30.
Student perception of clicker technology in science and mathematics education
Haeusler, Carole E. and Lozanovski, Con. 2010. "Student perception of clicker technology in science and mathematics education." CETL 2010: Enhancing Learning Experiences in Higher Education. Pok Fu Lam, China 02 - 03 Dec 2010 Hong Kong.
Enhancing pre-service primary teachers' learning in science education using team-based project work
Haeusler, Carole E. and Lozanovski, Con. 2010. "Enhancing pre-service primary teachers' learning in science education using team-based project work." CETL 2010: Enhancing Learning Experiences in Higher Education. Pok Fu Lam, China 02 - 03 Dec 2010 Hong Kong.