The ability to interpret and apply experiences, or cases (Kolodner, 1993; 1997) is a skill (Anderson, et. al, 1981; Anderson, 2000) that is key to successful learning that can be transferred (Bransford, Brown and Cocking, 1999) to new learning situations. For middle-schoolers in a project-based inquiry science classroom, interpreting and applying the experiences of experts to inform their design solutions is not always easy (Owensby and Kolodner, 2002). Interpreting and applying an expert case and then assessing the solution that results from that application are the components of a process I call case use. This work seeks to answer three questions: 1. How do small-group case use capabilities develop over time? 2. How well are students able to apply case use skills in new situations over time? 3. What difficulties do learners have as they learn case use skills and as they apply case use skills in new situations? What do these difficulties suggest about how software might further support cognitive skill development using a cognitive apprenticeship (Collins, Brown and Newman, 1989) framework? I argue that if learners in project based inquiry classrooms are able to understand, engage in, and carry out the processes involved in interpreting and applying expert cases effectively, then they will be able to do several things. They will learn those process and be able to read an expert case for understanding, glean the lessons they can learn from it, and apply those lessons to their question or challenge. Furthermore, I argue that they may also be able to transfer interpretation, application, and assessment skills to other learning situations where application of cases is appropriate.

PlantingScience (PS) is a unique web-based learning system designed to develop secondary students' scientific practices and proficiencies as they engage in hands-on classroom investigations while being mentored online by a scientist. Some students' teachers had the opportunity to attend PS professional development (PD). In this dissertation, I developed a process of assessing student learning outcomes associated with their use of this system and evaluated inquiry engagement within this system. First, I developed a valid and reliable instrument (Online Elements of Inquiry Checklist; OEIC) to measure participants' (students, scientists, and teachers) engagement in scientific practices and proficiencies embedded within an inquiry cycle I collaborated with an expert-group to establish the OEIC's construct and content validities. An inter-rater reliability coefficient of 0.92 was established by scientists and a split half analysis was used to determine the instruments' internal consistency (Spearman-Brown coefficient of 0.96). Next, I used the OEIC to evaluate inquiry cycle engagement by the participants who used the PS online platform designed by the Botanical Society of America which facilitated communication between participants. Students provided more evidence of engagement in the earlier phases of an inquiry cycle. Scientists showed a similar trend but emphasized experimental design and procedures. Teachers rarely engaged online. Exemplary students' outcomes followed similar inquiry cycle trends, but with more evidence of engagement with one notable difference. Exemplary students provided evidence for extensive engagement in immersion activities, implicating immersion as a crucial component of successful inquiry cycle engagement. I also compared engagement outcomes of students whose teachers attended the PD experience to the students of teachers who did not attend PD. Differences found between the two groups occurred throughout the inquiry cycle, typically associated with experiences provided during the PD. As a result of this research I have several recommendations about revisions to the PS online platform and use of approaches to assure students development of scientific practices and proficiencies. The recommendations include additional scaffolding of the platform, explicit inquiry cycle instruction, and continued opportunities for teachers to engage in PD experiences provided by PS.

O ensino de ciências baseado em investigação nas séries iniciais do ensino fundamental tem sido recomendado por muitos educadores, pelas academias de ciências de todo mundo e também pela Academia Brasileira de Ciências, que desenvolve o programa ABC na Educação Científica Mão na Massa. Este estudo se insere na temática de formação de formadores e foi realizado em um dos polos do programa, a Estação Ciência da Universidade de São Paulo, no projeto Mão na Massa - Iniciação Científica no Ciclo I realizado em parceria entre a Estação Ciência e a Secretaria Municipal de Educação de São Paulo (SME). O projeto teve como objetivo a implantação do ensino de ciências baseado em investigação em escolas municipais do fundamental I e envolveu dez Diretorias Regionais de Educação (DRE), cerca de oitenta escolas da SME e foi desenvolvido de 2006 a 2008. Consistiu na formação: de um formador de cada uma das Diretorias pela equipe da Estação Ciência, de um coordenador pedagógico de cada escola realizada pela Estação Ciência e pela DRE; dos professores do ensino fundamental I, que foi realizada pelos coordenadores pedagógicos na própria escola e dos alunos desses professores nas aulas de ciências. Acompanhamos e analisamos o grupo de formação continuada de formadores das Diretorias Regionais de Educação coordenado pela equipe da Estação Ciência. Realizamos pesquisa qualitativa com observação participativa dos encontros, entrevistas e análise de documentos, relatos e avaliações. A investigação e estudo da literatura mostraram que na formação continuada de formadores, está envolvida uma gama complexa de ações que requer diferentes saberes que são mobilizados durante o desenvolvimento de sequências didáticas formativas e favorecidas por estratégias que possibilitam interações dialógicas, dentre os quais destacamos: planejamento e desenvolvimento de situações de formação; conhecimento disciplinar em ciências; reflexão sobre a prática de formação e constituição de espaço coletivo e colaborativo. / Inquiry based science education for first years of schooling has been recommended by many educators, by Academies of Science of many countries, including Academia Brasileira de Ciências, which sponsors the programme ABC na Educação Científica Mão na Massa. This study of training of teacher trainers was undertaken in this program, in a joint project of the Municipal Authority for Education of the city of São Paulo with the science Center Estação Ciência of Universidade de São Paulo. The Project, Mão na Massa Iniciação Científica no Ciclo I, aimed at establishing inquiry based science education in aproximately eighty municipal elementary schools belonging to ten different Regional Education District, during the years 2006 to 2008. Training was offered by Estação Ciência to one teacher trainer in each Regional District and to a Pedagogical Coordinator of each participating school. These Pedagogical Coordinators also received training from the Regional District teacher trainer and were responsible for the training of teachers in their own school; the teachers then taught science in their classes. We followed the training work of the Estação Ciência team with the ten Regional District trainers, by qualitative research including observation and participation in meetings, interviews and examination of documents, reports and evaluations. Study of pertinent literature and the research showed that professional development for teacher trainers includes a series of complex actions which requires a variety of abilities and knowledge, which are used during training sequences and helped by strategies which favour dialogical interactions. We emphasize four of these: planning and development of training situations; understanding science concepts and practices; reflection about training practices; and establishment of an atmosphere of collective collaboration in the training group.

The thesis consists of two main parts: a theoretical one which includes a separate chapter about the Jizera Mountains as a whole, introducing their geological structure, climate, botanical and zoological species and three public figures connected with the Jizera Mountains. The second part is a practical one. The first chapter which is divided into ten sub-chapters, introduces typical vertebrates, especially those which can be included in education at primary schools and grammar schools. The next chapter mentions nature trails which are later suggested as enriching elements in zoological excursions. These must follow the official paths within the nature conservation area. Certain thought in this thesis is also given to the SPA (Special Protection Area) established to protect the black grouse and the boreal owl. The last but one chapter involves selected centres of ecological education and other organisations organising programmes focused on vertebrates. Then there is classification of primary and secondary education with emphasizing a short survey of which biology textbooks are used at primary schools around Jablonec nad Nisou. Education at secondary schools is supplemented with international researches called PISA and TIMSS serving as a base for the last chapter, which is about enquiry based...

Notre questionnement trouve sa source dans la mise en place, dans le cadre de la réforme du lycée de 2010, de l'enseignement d'exploration Méthodes et Pratiques Scientifiques (MPS) en Seconde. Cet enseignement pluridisciplinaire, visant à initier les élèves à la démarche scientifique dans le cadre d'un projet, a conduit les enseignants de mathématiques, à interroger et à modifier leurs pratiques. Nous proposons d'analyser ces changements sous l'angle des ressources et du travail des enseignants sur ces ressources. Nous mobilisons les cadres théoriques de la double approche didactique et ergonomique (Robert, 2010a ; Rogalski, 2010) et de l'approche documentaire du didactique (Gueudet et Trouche, 2010). Notre recherche est conduite à partir du suivi de professeurs de mathématiques impliqués en MPS et engagés dans différents collectifs disciplinaires et pluridisciplinaires. Ce suivi est complété par des entretiens avec les collègues des autres disciplines. Nous avons aussi effectué une étude sur l'offre des ressources disponibles pour l'un des thèmes proposés. Cette étude s'inscrit dans le programme de recherche ReVEA (Ressources Vivantes pour l'Enseignement et l'Apprentissage), soutenu par l'ANR. Notre thèse propose de montrer l'impact des ressources et de leur manque depuis la compréhension de la tâche prescrite jusqu'à la tâche effective, ainsi que celui des différents collectifs dans lesquels le professeur de mathématiques est impliqué. Elle questionne également les effets de ce travail sur le développement professionnel concernant en particulier la conception et la mise en œuvre de séances fondées sur des démarches d'investigation. / Our questioning emerges from the establishment of a new teaching, called Scientific Methods and Practices (MPS), as part of the French high school reform in 2010. This multidisciplinary teaching, which aims to initiate pupils to a scientific approach, leds mathematics teachers to question and to change their practices. We propose to analyze these changes in terms of resources and the way teachers work on these resources. We retain two approaches: the double approach didactic and ergonomic of the teaching practices (Robert, 2010a; Rogalski, 2010) and the documentational approach of didactics (Gueudet et Trouche, 2010). Our research is conducted from observations of mathematics teachers involved in MPS and engaged in different disciplinary and multidisciplinary collectives. These observations are supplemented by interviews with colleagues in other disciplines. We also performed a study of resources available for one of the themes proposed. This study is part of the research program ReVEA (Living Resources for Teaching and Learning), supported by the ANR. Our thesis aims to show the impact of resources and lack of resources from understanding the prescribed task to the effective task, and also the impact of the different collectives in which the mathematics teacher is involved. It questions as well the effects of this work on professional development, especially regarding the inquiry-based science teaching.

The primary goal of this study was to acquire an understanding of those practices that encourage the sustained use of simulations in support of inquiry-based science instruction. With the rapid distribution of Internet-related technologies in the field of education, it is most important to undertand the function of these innovations. Technology, specifically the implementation of simulations to support inquiry-based instruction, provides new educational strategies for science teachers. Technology also influences the field of education by repeatedly making some teachers' best practices obsolete. The qualitative research design was selected to explore the nature of science leaders' and teachers’ consideration or lack of consideration to incorporate simulations into their inquiry-based instruction. The method for collecting the data for this study included in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The analysis of this interview data was conducted in two phases. Phase I focused on the consensus views of the participants regarding the implementation of simulations. In order to gain a more in-depth understanding of the interview data, Phase II focused on the subtle differences among the participants regarding their execution of this instructional tool. The overall conclusion of this study was that the use of simulations requires a multi-faceted approach to ensure sustainability. As noted, science leaders must continue to encourage the high, medium and low users of simulations to implement the ongoing use of these instructional tools. Also, science teachers must do their part to ensure the success of these programs. By addressing the primary and secondary research questions, five major conclusions were reached. These conclusions include (a) the use of web-based simulations can have a positive influence on inquiry-based science instruction, (b) technology challenges have influenced the teachers’ use of simulations, (c) time influences the use of simulations, (d) ongoing professional development strategies support the sustained use of simulations, and (e) student engagement in inquiry-based science instruction is positively influenced by the use of simulations. This study concludes with suggestions for educational leaders and teachers along with further considerations for future research.

Orientadora: Profa. Dra. Fernanda Franzolin / Coorientadora: Profa. Dra. Roberta de Assis Maia / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ensino, História, Filosofia das Ciências e Matemática, Santo André, 2018. / Este trabalhou teve como objetivo, investigar a percepção das meninas nos Anos Iniciais do Ensino Fundamental sobre a possibilidade de atuação das mulheres como cientistas, quais são as suas preferências de temas para estudo relacionados às Ciências Naturais, além de elaborar e implementar ações de ensino, voltadas para fomentar mais a sua participação na referida disciplina, analisando o impacto das atividades propostas, comparando as suas interações no cotidiano escolar e durante a intervenção. Para atender tal objetivo, foi elaborada e aplicada uma sequência didática investigativa, em 2016, durante um projeto de extensão universitária, do qual participaram 85 crianças do quarto ano do Ensino Fundamental, de escolas públicas da região do ABC paulista. A atividade extensionista foi elaborada a partir de elementos identificados na literatura, apontados com potencial de estimular o engajamento das meninas nas atividades de ensino concernentes aos temas das Ciências Naturais. Tais elementos foram categorizados, auxiliando a atuação das mediadoras e a investigação dos registros avaliativos escritos e videogravados do projeto de extensão. Os dados foram analisados quanti e qualitativamente. Nos levantamentos iniciais realizados nas escolas, as meninas apresentaram um comportamento mais passivo nas aulas de Ciências, ainda que tenham apontado interesse por temas dessa área. Ademais, em geral, elas têm a concepção da possibilidade da mulher como Cientista, o que foi menos evidenciado no caso dos meninos. Durante a sequência didática foram realizadas entrevistas pelas crianças na universidade, com cientistas mulheres e homens, que apresentaram como é realizado o seu trabalho, o que criou novos referenciais femininos para as crianças. As mediadoras propiciaram a interação mais equitativa dos estudantes nas atividades e, além disso, foram desenvolvidas atividades investigativas, que despertaram a curiosidade e o interesse sobre os fenômenos abordados e apresentaram a forma de trabalho dos cientistas. Nessas práticas, as meninas tiveram maior participação. Possivelmente, contribuem para esse resultado três fatores as ações das mediadoras que contemplaram as categorias estabelecidas para promover a participação mais equitativa das meninas, a aprendizagem no projeto de extensão e o ensino por investigação. / Through the reflections on the participation of the girls in relation to the scientific subjects, this work was intended to investigate how to promote and to arouse the interest of this clientele by the subjects related to Sciences. In order to meet the aforementioned objective, in 2016 a didactic investigative sequence was elaborated, which was applied during a university extension project, for 85 children from the Early Years of Elementary School, from public schools in the ABC region of São Paulo. For the elaboration of the teaching actions, the conditions and / or methodologies pointed out in the literature have been identified in the literature with the potential to promote the greater participation of the girls in the teaching-learning activities in the science classes, which were categorized and considered as point of reference. the activities of the mediators in extension activities and also to investigate the results of these actions. Written evaluative records of the project were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. In the initial surveys carried out in the schools, the girls presented a more passive behavior in the classes of Sciences, although they have indicated interest by subjects of this area. In addition, in general, they have the conception of the possibility of the woman as Scientist, which was less evidenced in the case of the boys. During the didactic sequence interviews were carried out by the children at the university, with female and male scientists, who presented how their work is done, which created new female references for the children. In addition, research activities were developed that aroused curiosity and interest in the phenomena addressed and presented the way the scientists work. In these practices, the girls had greater participation.

The purpose of this project was to develop a handbook of inquiry activities that can be used in high school Earth sciences.

Diplomová práce se zabývá konceptem "závěrečných bakalářských prací žáků 5. tříd" na základní škole v kontextu badatelsky orientovaného vyučování. Práce si klade za cíl popsat celý proces vzniku takovéto závěrečné práce a popsat jeho souvislosti s badatelsky orientovaným vyučováním a rozvojem klíčových kompetencí. Autor v teoretické části vysvětluje jednotlivé kroky badatelsky orientovaného vyučování, definuje klíčové kompetence a přibližuje problematiku psaní a čtení odborného textu. V praktické části v kontextu badatelsky orientovaného vyučování pak analyzuje jednotlivé fáze procesu tvorby žákovské práce od výběru tématu až po závěrečnou obhajobu. Při analýze vychází ze zkušeností pedagogů základní školy a doplňuje ji o konkrétní ukázky ze žákovských prací. KLÍČOVÁ SLOVA badatelsky orientovaná výuka, žákovské "Závěrečné práce", čtení a psaní odborného textu, klíčové kompetence, 1. stupeň ZŠ ABSTRACT The thesis is looking into the concept of "final theses of 5th-grade pupils" attending primary school in the Czech Republic in the context of inquiry-based learning. The thesis aims to describe the whole process of creating such pupils' thesis and explain its links to inquiry-based learning and the development of key competencies. The author explains individual steps of inquiry-based learning, defines...

<div> <div> <div> <p>Previous work has identified the many difficulties that students experience in learning abstract concepts in STEM. Past studies have also identified the critical role that emotions play on students' motivation to learn. As new learning technologies are developed, they enable visualizing complex scientific concepts which can be non-visible thus assisting students' understanding of abstract ideas as well as improving their motivation as they learn. This study investigated two learning technologies and compared them to examine 1) their effectiveness on learning concepts of electricity in physics and 2) the interplay between learning with technology and emotions. Participants were randomly assigned to either Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) with a computer simulation or Game-Based Learning (GBL) with a computer game which addressed concepts of electricity in physics. During the experiment, students in the IBL condition explored materials by using the computer simulation and posed hypotheses and questions on their own with a guiding worksheet for IBL. Students in the GBL condition played an educational computer game following the guiding worksheet while they were meeting challenges created by the game with a guiding worksheet for GBL. Students' learning gains were assessed by comparing their pretest and posttest scores. Emotions were self-reported after the posttest by responding to a survey that measured 6 emotional scales that students may perceive during the experiment. The study found that both IBL and GBL enhanced students' understanding of given concepts. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two conditions in terms of learning gains. Students in the IBL achieved higher mean learning gains, whereas students in the GBL showed that they were more engaged. At the same time, students in the GBL perceived more confusion and frustration compared to students in the IBL. <br></p> </div> </div> </div>