ERIC Number: EJ1106806
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0950-0693
EISSN: N/A
Learning Science in Small Multi-Age Groups: The Role of Age Composition
Kallery, Maria; Loupidou, Thomais
International Journal of Science Education, v38 n9 p1570-1590 2016
The present study examines how the overall cognitive achievements in science of the younger children in a class where the students work in small multi-age groups are influenced by the number of older children in the groups. The context of the study was early-years education. The study has two parts: The first part involved classes attended by pre-primary children aged 4-6. The second part included one primary class attended by students aged 6-8 in addition to the pre-primary classes. Students were involved in inquiry-based science activities. Two sources of data were used: Lesson recordings and children's assessments. The data from both sources were separately analyzed and the findings plotted. The resulting graphs indicate a linear relationship between the overall performance of the younger children in a class and the number of older ones participating in the groups in each class. It seems that the age composition of the groups can significantly affect the overall cognitive achievements of the younger children and preferentially determines the time within which this factor reaches its maximum value. The findings can be utilized in deciding the age composition of small groups in a class with the aim of facilitating the younger children's learning in science.
Descriptors: Small Group Instruction, Mixed Age Grouping, Science Education, Preschool Children, Elementary School Students, Science Activities, Active Learning, Inquiry, Student Evaluation, Group Dynamics, Performance Based Assessment, Science Achievement, Video Technology, Teaching Methods, Intermode Differences, Instructional Effectiveness, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Greece
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A