Exploring student learning in diverse educational contexts

Exploring Student Learning From a Constructivist Perspective in Diverse Educational Contexts

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Abstract

This paper discusses the nature of different types of research that can contribute to our understanding of learners' ideas and learning in science topics. The paper considers the limitations of different types of research, and the expectations placed on researchers in carrying out their studies. A distinction is made between the standards expected of work that offers new empirical findings, and the higher expectations for theoretical novelty when looking to publish studies in international research journals. The importance of studying learners' ideas in different educational contexts is considered, and it is suggested that being able to relate research findings to specific features of the cultural or educational context may increase the theoretical importance of research reports. The general principles discussed are illustrated in terms of a discussion of the author's own research.

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Key words

Keywords: 

• Learning In Science
• Alternative Conceptions And Frameworks
• Students' Ideas
• Exploratory Research
• Qualitative Research
• Confirmatory Research
• Research In Different National Contexts
• Quality Criteria For Published Research

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"One potential way to give a study into learners' ideas a greater theoretical value is to look to link the findings to features of the educational context that may be of wider interest. Different educational systems may have different features that will influence student learning, and identifying these features and understanding their effects could well be of interest far beyond the particular focus of the study.

There are clearly many features of an educational system that could potentially be of relevance, including but not limited to:
• features of the language of instruction (such as idioms used in the subject)
• the age at which certain topics are introduced
• the sequencing of topics
• the teaching models and analogies, demonstrations or standard classroom practical work commonly used to teach particular ideas
An educational system is clearly set within a wider cultural context, and there may well also be important influences that arise out of school which are specific to some educational systems. A research report that offered illuminating insights into how such specific factors led to (or influenced the development of) particular aspects of the students' ideas has considerable potential to further our understanding of teaching and learning science."

Taber, 2008, pp.8-9

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Contents

• Introduction
• 1) Research into Learners' Ideas Seen As Part of a Coherent Research Programme
• 2) The Constructivist Research Programme
• 3) Types of Methodology
• 4) Difficulties with Experimental Design
• 5) Interpretive Research
• 6) Selecting a Focus and Justifying Research Questions
• 7) The Variable of Educational Context
• 8) Clarifying Theoretical Constructs
• 9) Data Collection and Analysis
• 10) Exploratory and Confirmatory Research
• 11) Sampling
• 12) Quantity versus Quality
• 13) An Example of an Individual Research Programme
• Discussion

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