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nature of elementary students' science discourse and conceptual learning

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Date Issued:
2011
Summary:
This qualitative study examined the nature of 5th-grade students' oral and written discourse in relation to their conceptual learning during six science inquiry-based lessons. Qualitative data were collected using small group observations, transcriptions of small group discourse, students' science notebooks, and student interviews. These data were used to create an in-depth illustration of 5th-grade students' discourse and the impact of that discourse on their science conceptual learning. Findings indicated students spoke in three main discourse classifications during small group inquiries and two of these discourses were also present in the science notebook entries. Findings further indicated gender did not impact the nature of students' oral or written discourse regarding their conceptual learning. Implications for classroom practice and suggestions for further research in elementary science education are offered.
Title: The nature of elementary students' science discourse and conceptual learning.
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Name(s): Parks, Melissa Y.
College of Education
Department of Curriculum, Culture, and Educational Inquiry
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 2011
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Physical Form: electronic
Extent: xiv, 247 p. : ill.
Language(s): English
Summary: This qualitative study examined the nature of 5th-grade students' oral and written discourse in relation to their conceptual learning during six science inquiry-based lessons. Qualitative data were collected using small group observations, transcriptions of small group discourse, students' science notebooks, and student interviews. These data were used to create an in-depth illustration of 5th-grade students' discourse and the impact of that discourse on their science conceptual learning. Findings indicated students spoke in three main discourse classifications during small group inquiries and two of these discourses were also present in the science notebook entries. Findings further indicated gender did not impact the nature of students' oral or written discourse regarding their conceptual learning. Implications for classroom practice and suggestions for further research in elementary science education are offered.
Identifier: 739097443 (oclc), 3318675 (digitool), FADT3318675 (IID), fau:3726 (fedora)
Note(s): by Melissa Y. Parks.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011.
Includes bibliography.
Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.
Subject(s): Science -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- United States
Learning, Psychology of
Cognition in children
Held by: FBoU FAUER
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3318675
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU