Title
Towards a taxonomy of explanations in science education
Abstract
One major goal of science education is for students to develop sophisticated explanations of the natural world (NRC, 2000). Scientists create and revise conceptual scientific models that they employ to develop and refine explanations. Scientists also have distinct forms and criteria for accepted explanations. Likewise, inquiry-based teaching enables students to ask questions, develop conceptual models and explanations, and critique and refine their explanations. However, students build upon existing, everyday ideas to make explanations that are different than those of scientists and judge explanations differently than the way that scientists judge them (Brewer, Chinn & Samarapungavan, 1998). Most existing approaches evaluate students' explanations along scientific criteria and overlook learners' existing ideas and skills in generating explanations. Instruction that encourages students to use, distinguish and refine these existing ideas can promote sophisticated and robust explanations (Linn & Eylon, 2006).
Year
Venue
Keywords
2010
ICLS
everyday idea,conceptual model,conceptual scientific model,existing approach,judge explanation,sophisticated explanation,scientific criterion,distinct form,science education,accepted explanation,existing idea
Field
DocType
Citations 
Conceptual model,Psychology,Scientific modelling,Pedagogy,Epistemology,Science education
Conference
0
PageRank 
References 
Authors
0.34
2
7