Poster #14 - Shifting Attention From Lesson Coherence to Student Coherence-Seeking: Examples From the TIMSS Video Study

• In Event: 51.082 - MTCC Poster Session 12
  In Poster Session: 51.082-2 - Science Teaching and Learning SIG Poster Session

Abstract

Despite predating the NGSS by almost two decades, the TIMSS 1999 Video Study continues to influence curriculum development for science. The video study drew attention to curricular coherence, suggesting that differences in student performance on the TIMSS could be explained by lesson structure. Lessons in high performing countries contained with clear conceptual storylines, whereas science lessons in lower performing countries consisted of loosely connected activities. In this study, we re-examine the TIMSS video data, focusing on students’ search for consistency and relationships between information. In contrast to the TIMSS results, we find multiple examples of students seeking coherence despite, or even in response to, apparent gaps in the storyline. Implications for NGSS curriculum design and evaluation are discussed.

Authors

• Tiffanyrose Sikorski, The George Washington University

• Alexandra Julia Straus, The George Washington University