eprintid: 10018559
rev_number: 12
eprint_status: archive
userid: 587
dir: disk0/00/01/85/59
datestamp: 2014-05-20 10:35:49
lastmod: 2017-12-07 21:32:40
status_changed: 2014-05-20 10:35:49
type: thesis
metadata_visibility: show
creators_name: Nicholls, Gillian May.
title: Case studies in the use of computer software in the teaching of energy.
ispublished: unpub
subjects: IE
divisions: B14
keywords: Physics education,Energy resources,Computer assisted learning,Educational software,Primary education,Secondary education,Cognitive style,Cedric 2.1 software
abstract: 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.
date: 1991
date_type: completed
oa_status: green
thesis_class: doctoral_open
language: eng
primo: open
primo_central: open_green
full_text_status: public
pres_type: paper
pages: 366
institution: Institute of Education, University of London
thesis_type: Doctoral
citation:        Nicholls, Gillian May.;      (1991)    Case studies in the use of computer software in the teaching of energy.                   Doctoral thesis , Institute of Education, University of London.     Green open access   
 
document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10018559/1/124530.pdf