Eliciting Middle Schoolers' Repertoire of Science Ideas and Determining Multiple Learning Paths

• In Event: AERA Virtual Poster Session 3
  In Poster Session: Instructional Technology SIG Poster Session 2

Abstract

This study investigated 6th graders’ science-related repertoire of ideas and how they integrate these ideas in learning paths while studying the Genetics of Inheritance. We grouped students’ learning paths using machine learning technique of clustering with the edit distance metric; and used generalized median string to determine the most representative paths. We analyzed progress in knowledge integration for critiquing and revisiting conditions. For the revisit condition, three learning paths emerged, characterized as Punnett-math-centric, DNA-structure-centric, and allele-centric. For the critique condition, four learning paths emerged, characterized as gene- centric, Punnett-math-centric, Punnett-function-centric, and allele-centric. The results reinforce the importance of curriculum materials that enable students to build their own learning path while also supporting students to integrate ideas as they encounter new information.

Authors

• Teeba Obaid, Simon Fraser University

• Hosein Aghajani

• Marcia Linn, University of California - Berkeley