Nature of Science Tasks as a Lens to Understand Students' Opportunities to Learn

• In Event: 30.033 - Teaching and Learning Science

Abstract

The Framework for K–12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards introduce a new vision for teaching and learning science. Using worthwhile instructional tasks will be critical to achieving this vision. This study aims to investigate the kinds of tasks used in science classrooms that require different levels of cognitive effort. Guided by a framework, which was designed to classify science tasks according to cognitive demand and the integration of content and practices, we analyzed 224 science tasks shared by 125 teachers through a statewide survey. The analyses revealed the kinds of opportunities that students were provided to learn science. Future analysis will focus on why teachers categorized the tasks as demanding high or low cognitive effort.

Authors

• Miray Tekkumru-Kisa, Florida State University

• Hannah Hiester, Florida State University

• Zahid Kisa, Florida State University