ERIC Number: EJ1120203
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Dec
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4308
EISSN: N/A
Early Elementary Students' Understanding of Complex Ecosystems: A Learning Progression Approach
Hokayem, Hayat; Gotwals, Amelia Wenk
Journal of Research in Science Teaching, v53 n10 p1524-1545 Dec 2016
Engaging in systemic reasoning about ecological issues is critical for early elementary students to develop future understanding of critical environmental issues such as global warming and loss of biodiversity. However, ecological issues are rarely taught in ways to highlight systemic reasoning in elementary schools. In this study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 44 students from the first through fourth grades. Using an iterative process, we developed an empirically grounded learning progression that captures how elementary students use systemic reasoning to explain interactions in ecosystems. This learning progression contains five reasoning patterns: anthropomorphic reasoning, concrete practical reasoning, simple causal reasoning, semi-complex causal reasoning, and complex causal reasoning. The results also show that many students exhibited mixed-level reasoning, meaning that they used reasoning patterns at multiple levels to construct a single response. We discuss the implications of the study for learning progression research and teaching ecosystems at early elementary grades.
Descriptors: Elementary School Students, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Logical Thinking, Ecology, Environmental Education, Semi Structured Interviews, Learning Processes, Thinking Skills, Science Instruction
Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 1; Primary Education; Early Childhood Education; Grade 2; Grade 3; Grade 4; Intermediate Grades
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A