Developing and Validating a Performance-Based Assessment of Systems Thinking in Elementary Science Classrooms

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Wednesday 7:45am
  In Poster Session: Division H: Graduate Student Research Grant Awardees

Abstract

Systems thinking is a higher-order thinking skill used to solve real-world problems by viewing the system as a whole rather than its separate parts, and growing evidence suggests that elementary students are also capable of developing foundational systems thinking skills. Yet, systems thinking at the elementary level receives far less attention than at the secondary level. This study develops and validates a performance-based assessment for elementary students, aiming to create a rubric-guided evaluation protocol to capture variation in students’ systems thinking. Using systems thinking frameworks by Assaraf and Orion (2005) and Evagorou et al. (2009), this mixed-methods study aims to validate the developed protocol and assess students' systems thinking skills among first- and fifth-grade study participants.

Author

• Yameng Cui, Lehigh University