This thesis explores some ways in which language can be employed as a tool for crosscurricular learning in Key Stage 3 (KS3) education. An examination of how linguistic interaction is employed by pupils as a means of facilitating their attainment of curriculaspecific learning objectives provides a case study for exemplifying how language can be used effectively across disciplines in secondary education. Within the context of exploring pupils' interaction in the subject of Technology, this thesis explores some gender differences in interaction and the potential effects that such differences can have upon gender-differentiated attainment levels in KS3 Technology. The data obtained for the thesis comprises transcripts of small group pupil-pupil discussion taken from KS3 Technology lessons. The conversations of the groups were recorded, transcribed and then analysed using a revised version of Francis and Hunston's (1992) system of discourse analysis. Gender differences in the types of discourse strategies employed by the participants were identified and evaluated in terms of how effectively they function to facilitate the successful attainment of specific learning objectives. The conclusions drawn from the findings of the research are that the discourse collectively produced by the girls in the study tends to be more effective in facilitating the attainment of learning objectives than that which is produced by the boys. This may, in part, provide one possible explanation as to why the girls in the study achieve higher attainment levels in KS3 Technology than the boys.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:364520 |
| Date | January 2000 |
| Creators | Sauntson, Helen Victoria |
| Publisher | University of Birmingham |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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