ERIC Number: EJ1188360
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 24
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1087-3430
EISSN: N/A
The Effects of Using Interactive Student Notebooks and Specific Written Feedback on Seventh Grade Students' Science Process Skills
Mallozzi, Floria; Heilbronner, Nancy N.
Electronic Journal of Science Education, v17 n3 2013
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the consistent use metacognitive strategies imbedded in an Interactive Student Notebook (ISN) would impact science process skills of 7th-grade students. In addition, this study explored whether specific teacher written feedback, provided to students in the ISN, further enhanced the use of ISNs and resulted in greater gains in students' science process skills. A sample of convenience, 7th-grade students (n = 194) in two suburban middle schools in the northeastern United States was utilized for this study. Students participated for 15 weeks in one of three instructional programs: (a) a science instructional program using ISNs embedded with metacognitive strategies and specific written feedback (treatment), (b) a science instructional program using ISNs embedded with metacognitive strategies only (comparison), and (c) a traditional science program using regular classroom instructional practices (control). Students' science process skills were measured using Form A (pretest) and Form B (posttest) of the Diet Cola Test, and data were analyzed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a multiple linear regression. Results revealed a significant main effect for type of instruction. Students in the comparison group (n = 67, M = 10.75, SD = 3.53) scored significantly higher (p = 0.026, d = 0.47, moderate) than students in the control group (n = 66, M = 9.10, SD = 3.50) on mean posttest scores of Science Process Skills. There were no significant differences between the remaining groups. In addition, regression analysis suggested that the type of feedback that students received (Task-specific, Process-specific, or Metacognitive-specific) did not predict students' science process posttest scores. Implications for educators and researchers are suggested.
Descriptors: Student Journals, Feedback (Response), Middle School Students, Grade 7, Science Process Skills, Metacognition, Learning Strategies, Notetaking, Suburban Schools, Pretests Posttests, Multiple Regression Analysis, Scores, Experimental Groups, Control Groups, Predictor Variables, Science Education
Southwestern University and Texas Christian University. TCU Box 297900, Fort Worth, TX 76129. Tel: 817-257-6115; e-mail: ejse@southwestern.edu; Web site: http://ejse.southwestern.edu
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A