ERIC Number: EJ1125759
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2149-214X
EISSN: N/A
Evaluating Middle School Students' Spatial-Scientific Performance within Earth/Space Astronomy in Terms of Gender and Race/Ethnicity
Wilhelm, Jennifer; Toland, Michael D.; Cole, Merryn
Journal of Education in Science, Environment and Health, v3 n1 p40-51 2017
Differences were examined between groups of sixth grade students? spatial-scientific development pre/post implementation of an Earth/Space unit. Treatment teachers employed a spatially-integrated Earth/Space curriculum, while control teachers implemented their Business as Usual (BAU) Earth/Space units. A multi-level modeling approach was used in a hierarchical manner to evaluate student performance on the Purdue Spatial Visualization: Rotation test (PSVT-Rot) and on the Lunar Phases Concept Inventory (which included four spatial domains), while controlling for two variables (gender and race/ethnicity) at the student level and one variable (teaching experience) at the teacher level. Results showed Treatment girls achieved higher LPCI Periodic Patterns (PP) spatial domain post-scores than girls in the BAU group. A gender gap was also observed (in favor of boys) within the BAU group for PP domain post-scores, while no gap was shown within the Treatment group. In addition, results for PP suggest Students of Color tended to have lower PP scores than White students (Effect Size = 0.29), and that higher pretest PP scores tended to lead to higher posttest PP scores, after adjusting for other student and teacher characteristics. The only statistically significant predictor of the PSVT-Rot posttest scores were scores on the respective pretest.
Descriptors: Grade 6, Middle School Students, Earth Science, Space Sciences, Science Instruction, Teaching Methods, Spatial Ability, Conventional Instruction, Visualization, Motion, Scientific Concepts, Gender Differences, Racial Differences, Ethnic Groups, Pretests Posttests, Scores, Minority Group Students, Statistical Analysis, Student Surveys
Journal of Education in Science, Environment and Health. Necmettin Erbakan University, Ahmet Kelesoglu Education Faculty, Meram, Konya 42090, Turkey. e-mail: jeseh.info@gmail.com; Web site: http://www.jeseh.net
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 6; Intermediate Grades; Middle Schools; Elementary Education; Secondary Education; Junior High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A