Early Elementary Systems Thinking and Perspective-Taking in the Honeybee Hive

• In Event: Innovations in Methods and Frameworks for Learning

Abstract

Complex systems - coherent sets in which behaviors of elements in one level add up and affect behaviors in others - are present in every facet of life, yet are difficult to understand (e.g., Wilensky & Resnick, 1999). Here, we explore how the third-person perspective offered by traditional simulations and the first-person perspective offered by participatory simulations work differently to support children’s systems thinking learning. We worked with three first-grade classrooms across three conditions: first-person perspective only, third-person only, and both combined. The combined and third-person classrooms showed significant gains from pre- to post-test while the first-person classroom showed gains that were not statistically significant. This suggests early elementary students are capable of learning systems thinking, particularly through third-person perspectives.

Authors

• Naomi Thompson, University at Buffalo - SUNY

• Joshua Adam Danish, Indiana University

• Kylie A. Peppler, Indiana University - Bloomington