ERIC Number: EJ1227899
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Dec
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1609-4913
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Why E-Learning Matters: Developing Early Elementary School Students' Understanding of the Seasons
So, Winnie Wing-Mui; Chen, Yu
Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, v19 n2 Article 9 Dec 2018
E-learning is playing a significant and increasing role in elementary science education. The purpose of this study was to explore how primary Grade 3 students constructed an understanding of seasons through a series of interactive e-learning activities. One class of Grade 3 students from one local primary school was invited to participate in this study. Methods for data collection included lesson observation and cognitive walkthroughs. Results indicated that the students came to school with alternative conceptions of the seasons, such as the seasons are distributed unevenly or that summer is the longest and includes the months from June to September. Results also indicated that the process of discussing prior knowledge of the seasons through online forums as well as analyzing the weather data of temperature, humidity, and rainfall as evidence to explain seasons helped to facilitate the students' conceptual changes and construction, as well as their awareness and skills of evidence use in scientific explanations. This study has implications for the implementation of e-learning for developing students' science concepts and abilities of evidence use in early elementary education.
Descriptors: Electronic Learning, Elementary School Students, Weather, Grade 3, Learning Processes, Discussion Groups, Prior Learning, Data Analysis, Scientific Concepts, Concept Formation, Foreign Countries, Children, Educational Games, Science Instruction, Scientific Literacy
Hong Kong Institute of Education. 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong. Tel: +011-852-2948-7650; Fax: +011-852-2948-7726; e-mail: apfslt@sci.ied.edu.hk; Web site: http://www.ied.edu.hk/apfslt
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Early Childhood Education; Grade 3; Primary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Hong Kong
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A