Drawing for Understanding: An Instructional Approach for Promoting Learning and Understanding

• In Event: Multiple Representations and Learning Environments

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the quality of students’ learning and developing understanding while engaging in an activity of Student-Generated Representations (SGR). We design learning environments in various scientific topics, in which SGR is a significant component. Students in 4-8th grades, generate representations while trying to understand a difficult phenomenon, negotiate and co-construct representations in small groups, and later, design representations for an external audience. Video records and students’ visual representations are analyzed qualitatively to gain insight as for the processes of thinking and developing understanding during the activities. We provide evidence how this kind of engagement enhances students’ capabilities of using a range of representational tools for advancing their own understanding, which is an important aspect of life-long learning.

Authors

• Orit Parnafes, Tel Aviv University

• Tali Aderet-German, Tel Aviv University

• Efrat Toov Ward, Tel Aviv University