This study investigates two secondary science classes using an interactive multimedia program that was designed for use in small groups to elicit and promote discussion of students pre-instructional conceptions of motion. The software was designed and constructed by the author and incorporated sixteen digital video clips, primarily focussing on projectile motion, showing difficult, expensive, time-consuming or dangerous demonstrations of mostly real-life, out-of-classroom scenarios. The program used predict-observe-explain (POE) strategy to structure the students' engagement with each scenario-the clips acting as stimuli for the sixteen POE tasks. This strategy involves students predicting the outcome of a demonstration and discussing the reasons for their prediction, observing the demonstration and finally explaining any discrepancies between their prediction and observation (White & Gunstone, 1992). The choice and sequence of the video clips, as well as the multiple-choice options available to students in the prediction phase of each task, were informed by alternative conception research and the history of science literature.This interpretive study uses constructivism as a theoretical perspective to explore three main issues relating to the use of the multimedia-supported POE tasks: firstly, the students' learning conversations during their use of the POE tasks; secondly, the use of the program as an instrument to probe students' science conceptions; and thirdly,' the affordances and constraints of the computer-mediated environment for the POE strategy. Students worked in pairs and were required to type full sentence responses that were recorded by the computer for later analysis by the researcher. In addition, the students were required to make pencil and paper drawings during some tasks. Other data sources for this mainly qualitative study included audio and ++ / video recordings of student discussions, interviews with selected students and their teachers, classroom observations, and student questionnaires.Findings suggested that students participated in meaningful small group discussions at the computer and the program acted as an efficient and convenient teaching instrument to elicit and record their conceptions of motion. Indeed, the multimedia nature of the program offered fresh and exciting opportunities that mark a new development in the use of the predict-observe-explain strategy in science education. The findings have implications for authentic technology-mediated learning in science classrooms.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1981. / Copy 2 in E Thesis M. Phil. 81 T5.

Better visualization of micro-level structures and processes can greatly enhance student understanding of key biological functions such as the central dogma. Previous research has demonstrated a need of introducing novel methods to increase student understanding of these concepts. The intention of this report is to show how computational modeling programs (CMPs) can be successfully used as an innovative method of teaching biology concepts that occur at a molecular level. The use of computers and web-based lessons are not new topics in secondary education studies but there is not an abundance of research related to computational modeling alone. We began by researching the many studies that have already indicated the benefits of using computers in the classroom with an emphasis on CMPs and simulations. Of these, we focused mostly on the ones that showed increased student engagement and influenced understanding of core science concepts. Based on the literature reviewed, a framework for curriculum designed around CMPs is proposed. Lastly, a model lesson is discussed to provide an example of how these professional grade tools can be employed in the classroom. This report provides a basis for the continued development of constructivist curriculum built around the use of professional grade computational tools in secondary science classrooms. / text

This thesis examines the cultural background of students and investigates differences in the way teachers interact with students of different cultural backgrounds. The study comprises three parts. Firstly, it validates the new classroom environment measuring instrument, the Cultural Learning Environment Questionnaire (CLEQ). This instrument is used for the first time to assess the cultural factors that students bring to their classrooms. Secondly, as well as providing validation data for the use of the Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI), it investigates associations between students' cultural background and their perceptions of student-teacher interactions. The third part of the study looks at whether the students' cultural background affects their attitudes and achievement. This study is significant because teachers in multicultural classrooms need to be informed about how cultural factors interact with student perceptions of their preferred student-teacher interpersonal behaviours. As a result of this study, a tool is now available that can be used by teachers to monitor what is occurring in their own classrooms and to guide improvements in their teaching, thereby leading to improved learning among students.

Recent reform efforts in science education focus on scientific literacy for all citizens. In order to be scientifically literate, an individual must have informed understandings of nature of science (NOS), scientific inquiry, and science content matter. This study specifically focused on Science Olympiad students’ understanding of NOS as one piece of scientific literacy. Research consistently shows that science students do not have informed understandings of NOS (Abd-El-Khalick, 2002; Bell, Blair, Crawford, and Lederman, 2002; Kilcrease and Lucy, 2002; Schwartz, Lederman, and Thompson, 2001). However, McGhee-Brown, Martin, Monsaas and Stombler (2003) found that Science Olympiad students had in-depth understandings of science concepts, principles, processes, and techniques. Science Olympiad teams compete nationally and are found in rural, urban, and suburban schools. In an effort to learn from students who are generally considered high achieving students and who enjoy science, as opposed to the typical science student, the purpose of this study was to investigate Science Olympiad students’ understandings of NOS and the experiences that formed their understandings. An interpretive, qualitative, case study method was used to address the research questions. The participants were purposefully and conveniently selected from the Science Olympiad team at a suburban high school. Data collection consisted of the Views of Nature of Science – High School Questionnaire (VNOS-HS) (Schwartz, Lederman, & Thompson, 2001), semi-structured individual interviews, and a focus group. The main findings of this study were similar to much of the previous research in that the participants had informed understandings of the tentative nature of science and the role of inferences in science, but they did not have informed understandings of the role of human imagination and creativity, the empirical nature of science, or theories and laws. High level science classes and participation in Science Olympiad did not translate into informed understandings of NOS. There were implications that labs with a set procedure and given data tables did not contribute to informed NOS understandings, while explicit instruction may have contributed to more informed understandings. Exploring these high achieving, Science Olympiad students’ understandings of NOS was a crucial step to understanding what experiences formed these students’ understandings so that teachers may better their practices and help more students succeed in becoming scientifically literate citizens.

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