Learners’ mental models of the particle nature of matter: a study of 16 year-old Swedish science students

The results presented here derive from a longitudinal study of Swedish upper secondary science students’ (16-19 years of age) developing understanding of key chemical concepts. The informants were 18 students from two different schools. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mental models of matter at the particulate level that learners develop. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews based around the students’ own drawings of the atom, and of solids, liquids, and gases. The interview transcripts were analysed to identify patterns in the data that offer insight into aspects of student understanding. The findings are discussed in the specific curriculum context in Swedish schools. Results indicate that the teaching model of the atom (derived from Bohr’s model) commonly presented by teachers and textbook authors in Sweden gives the students an image of a disproportionately large and immobile nucleus, emphasises a planetary model of the atom and gives rise to a chain of logic leading to immobility in the solid state and molecular breakdown during phase transitions. The findings indicate that changes in teaching approaches are required to better support learners in developing mental models that reflect the intended target knowledge

Emergent Chemistry: Using Visualizations to Develop Abstract Thinking and a Sense of Scale Within the Preschool Setting

This chapter is a summary of 5-years of research regarding children’s emerging abstract concepts. A longitudinal study focusing on children’s conversations during a series of activities with a chemistry focus was designed and implemented. Results show that practical experience with magnifying glasses, microscopes, and the deconstruction of several items did not provide enough backdrop for the children to imagine what an even smaller world would look like. Instead, the children applied their experiences from the macroscopic world to describe what they saw. It was not until aminations, zooming in from the macroscopic to the atomic and molecular levels were used that the children’s concept of small began to develop. Results show that the next stage of concept development, besides using descriptions from everyday experiences was the realization these were new experiences, that it was in fact something new they were seeing. Animation technology also helped the children realize that atoms and molecules are everywhere in everything, suggesting that the time elapsed between the transition from the macroscopic level to the submicroscopic level also provided the children with a sense of scale

Relationships between models used for teaching chemistry and those expressed by students

This thesis is focused upon chemistry as a school subject and students' interpretations and use of formally introduced teaching models. To explore students' developing repertoire of chemical models, a longitudinal interview study was undertaken spanning the first year of upper secondary school chemistry. Matter in its different states was selected as the target framework for this study. The results presented are derived from both generalisations of groups of students as well as a case study describing an individual learner's interpretation of formal content. The results obtained demonstrated that the formal teaching models provided to the students included in this study were not sufficient to afford them a coherent framework of matter in its different states or for chemical bonding. Instead, students' expressed models of matter and phase change were to a high degree dependent on electron movement (Paper I), anthropomorphism (Paper II) and, for one student, a mechanistic approach based on small particles and gravitation (Paper III). The results from this study place focus on the importance of learners' prior learning (previous experiences) and the need to develop a coherent framework of formal teaching models for the nature of matter and phase change

An Analysis of the Development of Preschoolers’ Natural Science Concepts from the Perspective of Framework Theory

The aim of the study was to explore children’s learning of natural science, and the authors chose a literature review as the means to achieve this aim. As the research into children’s emerging science is fragmented into many different theoretical perspectives and many kinds of studies are included, research results deriving from the field can be difficult to summarize. To resolve this issue, Vosniadou’s framework theory was used as the tool for data analysis. Results show emergence as a dynamic interaction between intuitive and counter-intuitive concepts leading to synthetic and scientific models in combination with developing epistemological and ontological skills. The accumulation of synthetic concepts seems to be the most common result of early formal educational input. Both intuitive and synthetic models are predecessors for scientific concepts and models, and these models as such are very important for emerging science. The conclusions suggest that diverse science experiences should bring about more synthetic models. This subsequently creates a wider basis for further development. Another important factor of emergence is the development of children’s epistemic skills and ontological shifts. Research results suggest that it is important for teachers to support children’s epistemic and ontological skills. Enhancing children’s understanding about causality and ontology is an important step towards developing formal concepts of science

Moving beyond the language–Visualizing chemical concepts through one’s own creative expression

The aim of the study was to explore university students’ interpretations of chemical content in the form of physical constructions of atomic nuclei. Playdough was chosen as the means for expression, since it provided the students with the task of choosing the number, form, size, shape, and distance of particles. Data was collected in the form of photographs, written explanations as well as ad hoc notes. Data from 64 students was analyzed using the three levels of analysis as presented by Hedegaard and framed within the theories of models. Results show that students’ choices gave rise to 34 variations of the atomic nuclei. The analysis provided two different categories: models with close resemblance to the teaching model and models with less resemblance to the teaching model. Results show the limitations of verbal and written communication and add to the discussion concerning students’ interpretations of the multitude of atomic models used in teaching. The method was indeed a beneficial tool both for students, who could explore the composition of atomic nuclei and isotopes, and for teachers, who could connect their teaching to students’ interpretations of scientific content since the method brings a new level of detail to discussions.

A study of preschool children's motive orientation during science activities

The results presented here are part of a two-year longitudinal study with two main objectives: 1) designing subject-specific science activities that provide experience of chemical phenomena and support positive emotions of science and 2) exploring preschool children’s emergent science. Science was introduced into the preschool setting in the form of conceptual play. Data was collected using visual-ethnography and analysed inductively to explore the dynamics of children’s development of motive orientation over a year of science activities. Results show the significance of the social environment for developing motives and influencing leading motives. The discussion highlights the necessity of considering both cognitive and emotional aspects within preschool science activities in order to be able to create positive cultural motives for science

Emergent chemistry : The development of abstract thinking in preschool science education

Sweden’s preschool curriculum promotes scientific literacy of young children, with a focus on natural sciences. But how can preschool children best gain an understanding of physical phenomena and basic chemical processes? Dr Clara Vidal Carulla (Gothenburg University) and Dr Karina Adbo (Linnaeus University) use cultural-historical theory to explore how abstract thinking can be developed in preschool children to support science education. The focus of their research is on sub-microscopic particles in chemistry, but the findings are useful for learners of all levels

Exploring the use of Basic Scientific Concepts in Higher Education

The purpose of this study was to exploreengineering students’ ways of solving problems specific formaterial technology and thermodynamics. A writtenquestionnaire was used for data collection. Results show thatestablishing an understanding for fundamental scientific conceptsis a process that takes time. The concepts in focus have been partof the school curricula since the compulsory school level, and formany of the students the concepts were still not established. Theamount of time required to acquire concepts becomes especiallyimportant for discussions concerning a broadened studentrecruitment, where a change in prerequisites for university leveleducation may lead to students who have less understanding forfundamental concepts, and thereby contribute to a reduction in thequality of higher education