TY  - UNPB
UR  - https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10018559/
TI  - Case studies in the use of computer software in the teaching of energy.
KW  - Physics education
KW  - Energy resources
KW  - Computer assisted learning
KW  - Educational software
KW  - Primary education
KW  - Secondary education
KW  - Cognitive style
KW  - Cedric 2.1 software
ID  - discovery10018559
N1  - Unpublished
EP  - 366
AV  - public
N2  - The project was designed to investigate how a piece of software could
be used in the teaching of Energy. The central aim of the research
was to show how the incorporation of software in the teaching of
energy is dependent on a variety of factors, notably pupil's cognitive
levels, and their underlying conceptions of energy.
The subjects of the study were four classes consisting of three age
groups, who participated in a six week energy project.
The data consisted of:
(a) A special purpose conceptual questionnaire;
(b) CSMS Science Reasoning Tasks;
(c) Observations during teaching;
(d) Pupils work during teaching;
(e) Data about pupils from teachers and school records.
The questionnaire was given to pupils before and after teaching. From
an analysis of the results it was possible to describe a structure of
pupil's conceptions of Energy. Three of the classes were given
Piagetian tests to establish pupil's cognitive levels, as a possible
way of predicting problem areas that might occur in the use of the
software. Observations of the interaction between pupils and the
computer were made and used to develop teaching strategies. Detailed
records of the pupil's project work were collected. The analysis of
this work was made through:
1 A "systemic" network, that characterised pupil's conceptions of
Energy from their written work;
2 A comparison of the cognitive level (on Piagetian lines) of the
written work and the cognitive demands of the tasks set through the
software;
3 A comparison of cognitive levels on SRTs and cognitive level as
evidence in pupil's work and in their conceptions;
4 In certain cases, data about pupils was obtained from the teachers
and school records to substantiate the results found in the
analysis.
In so doing, some of the influences on the learning and teaching of
energy with the use of a piece of software have been explored.
PB  - Institute of Education, University of London
A1  - Nicholls, Gillian May.
Y1  - 1991///
M1  - Doctoral
ER  -