Framing of Everyday Decisions and Inscriptional Resources in High School Biology Textbooks in China

• In Event: 18.072 - Roundtable Session 6
  In Roundtable Session: 18.072-7 - Investigating and Supporting Science Engagement

Abstract

Students do not often see science as relevant to everyday problems as while school science teaches us “what is true,” we need to decide “what to do” outside of school. This study analyzed high school biology textbooks in China to critically examine how everyday decisions are framed and how inscriptions, as relevant resources, is organized in ways that support thinking about these decisions. We found that types of decisions vary across different textbooks while personal health is the major focus. The textbooks provide limited resources for students to think about these decisions, while photos frequently serve as proximal resources. This study sheds light on how textbooks play a role in student perception of science as relevant to their lives.

Authors

• Sihan Xiao, East China Normal University

• Chang Liu, University of Georgia - Athens