journal :: Kuhn Berland, L., Reiser, B. J. (2009). Making sense of argumentation and explanation. Science Education, 93(1), 26-55.

Constructing scientific explanations and participating in argumentative discourse are seen as essential practices of scientific inquiry (e.g., R. Driver, P. Newton, & J. Osborne, 2000). In this paper, we identify three goals of engaging in these related scientific practices: (1) sensemaking, (2) articulating, and (3) persuading. We propose using...

Tags: science, inquiry, student, engagement, learning, teaching

journal :: Fortus, D. (2009). The importance of learning to make assumptions. Science Education, 93(1), 86-108.

Making assumptions is an important step in solving many real-world problems. This study investigated whether participants who could solve well-defined physics problems could also solve a real-world physics problem that involved the need to make assumptions. The participants, who all had at least a BA in physics, were videotaped thinking aloud wh...

Tags: problem-solving, science, assumption, physics, learning

journal :: Baram-Tsabari, A., Sethi, R. J., Bry, L., Yarden, A. (2009). Asking scientists: A decade of questions analyzed by age, gender, and country. Science Education, 93(1), 131-160.

Nearly 79,000 questions sent to an Internet-based Ask-A-Scientist site during the last decade were analyzed according to the surfer's age, gender, country of origin, and the year the question was sent. The sample demonstrated a surprising dominance of female contributions among K-12 students (although this dominance did not carry over to the ful...

Tags: scientist, gender, internet, empowerment, age, youth

journal :: Atkins, L. J., Velez, L., Goudy, D., Dunbar, K. N. (2009). The unintended effects of interactive objects and labels in the science museum. Science Education, 93(1), 161-184.

What effects do different setups of museum exhibits have on visitors' conversations and interactions? The study reported here is an investigation of the role that labels and associated materials play in visitors' conversations and interactions at a heat camera exhibit. After we introduced a label to help visitors explore the insulating propertie...

Tags: exhibit, layout, interaction, labels, signage, learning

journal :: Greenfield, P. M. (2009). Technology and Informal Education: What Is Taught, What Is Learned. Science, 323(5910), 69-71.

The informal learning environments of television, video games, and the Internet are producing learners with a new profile of cognitive skills. This profile features widespread and sophisticated development of visual-spatial skills, such as iconic representation and spatial visualization. A pressing social problem is the prevalence of violent vid...

Tags: informal education

journal :: Dede, C. (2009). Immersive Interfaces for Engagement and Learning. Science, 323(5910), 66-69.

Immersion is the subjective impression that one is participating in a comprehensive, realistic experience. Interactive media now enable various degrees of digital immersion. The more a virtual immersive experience is based on design strategies that combine actional, symbolic, and sensory factors, the greater the participant's suspension of disbe...

journal :: P. Hines, B. Jasny, J. Mervis (Eds.). (2009). Science and Technology Issue. Science, 323(5910).

In this special issue, we have collected a range of articles in the research, opinion, news, and book review sections that examine how education is changing in the face of technology. Related videos and podcasts feature interviews with some of the authors. As examples, we explore what one can learn from video games, how large-scale testing might...

journal :: Mayo, M. J. (2009). Video Games: A Route to Large-Scale STEM Education?. Science, 323(5910), 79 - 82.

Video games have enormous mass appeal, reaching audiences in the hundreds of thousands to millions. They also embed many pedagogical practices known to be effective in other environments. This article reviews the sparse but encouraging data on learning outcomes for video games in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines, the...

report :: National Research Council . (2009). Learning Science in Informal Environments: Places, People, and Pursuits. Washington DC: National Academies Press: Bell, P., Lewenstein, B., Shouse, A., Feder, M. A.

Philip Bell, Bruce Lewenstein, Andrew W. Shouse, and Michael A. Feder, Editors, Committee on Learning Science in Informal Environments, Informal science is a burgeoning field that operates across a broad range of venues and envisages learning outcomes for individuals, schools, families, and society. The evidence base that describes informal sc...

Tags: informal learning, science education, national research council report, BOSE

report :: Pew Research Center. (2009). The Pew Internet Project: Generations Online in 2009 . Washington DC: Jones, S., Fox, S.

Contrary to the image of Generation Y as the “Net Generation,” internet users in their 20s do not dominate every aspect of online life. Generation X is the most likely group to bank, shop, and look for health information online. Boomers are just as likely as Generation Y to make travel reservations online. And even Silent Generation internet use...

Descriptors: General Public, Research, Internet Usage, Internet