ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Armbruster, P., Patel, M., Johnson, E., & Weiss, M. (2009). Active learning and student-centered pedagogy improve student attitudes and performance in introductory biology. CBE-Life Sciences Education, 8(3), 203-213.
This article describes a case study on the reorganization of a first-year university biology class. The three main points they have done include teaching specific contents with broader conceptual themes, incorporating active and problem-based learning, and making the environment more student-centered. The result of increased student interest and performance is relevant to our promotion of scientific thinking.
Bell, R. L., & Trundle, K. C. (2008). The use of a computer simulation to promote scientific conceptions of moon phases. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 45(3), 346-372. doi:10.1002/tea.20227
Common misconception on how moon phases work is common, and all 50 pre-service teachers in this study held such misconceptions. The researchers were able to change the pre-service teachers’ misconceptions by using carefully designed simulation and pedagogical approach that focuses on conceptual change.
Bonwell, C. C., & Sutherland, T. E. (1996). The active learning continuum: Choosing activities to engage students in the classroom. New directions for teaching and learning, 1996(67), 3-16.
This chapter in a book encourages teachers to promote active learning strategies to facilitate student learning. Teachers should consider the learning objectives, personal teaching styles, and students’ level of experience when choosing the right strategies to promote.
Crawford, B. A. (2000). Embracing the essence of inquiry: New roles for science teachers. Journal of research in science teaching, 37(9), 916-937.
Crawford emphasizes the need for inquiry-based learning with the classroom, especially for science educators. He states that epistemology and curiosity to question the unknown is a valid and essential part in the deduction of science has been not adequately integrated to our currently outdated education system.
DeBourgh, G. A. (2008). Use of classroom “clickers” to promote acquisition of advanced reasoning skills. Nurse Education in Practice, 8(2), 76-87.
Debough suggest that popularization of clicker-based activities (predominant in post-secondary education) may be highly beneficial towards students’ engagement, satisfaction, collaborations, critical thinking, acquisition, reflection, and time management. He suggest that transitioning away from summative to formative assessment may be more appropriate and effective than common traditional approaches within the education system, especially in the case of clicker integration within the classroom -- not only should it be available, but more ubiquitous in other programs and learners.
Driver, R. (2000). Establishing the norms of scientific argumentation in classrooms. Science Education (Salem, Mass.), 84(3), 287; 287-312; 312.
Since the social aspect of science is based on forming clear arguments, the arguments also have a central role in education about science. The authors believe that the current science education pedagogy practices in UK lacks this emphasis on arguments, and this needs to be improved.
Edelson, D. C. (1998). Realising authentic science learning through the adaptation of scientific practice. International handbook of science education, 1, 317-331.
This chapter in a book discusses how technology can be used in aid to promote scientific thinking. It also stresses that scientific thinking can only be fostered by finding a balance between traditional lecturing and interactive technologies.
Fishman, B. J., & O'Connor-Divelbiss, S. F. (2013). International conference of the learning sciences: Facing the challenges of complex real-world settings. Psychology Press.
The process to learn, comprehend, perform, apply and research science are under threat in the current educational system. This article suggest that students must be prepared for realistic challenges of the relevant scenarios and processes to adequately solve global scientific issues.
Geahigan, G. (1998). From procedures, to principles, and beyond: Implementing critical inquiry in the classroom. Studies in Art Education, 39(4), 293-308.
Despite progressive integration and implication of inquiry to educational pedagogy, little guidance of specific methodological approaches and incorporations are provided to educators within the classroom. Geahigan highlights the limitations and abstractions of currently integrated inquiry-based approaches and proposes three essential considerations to foster critical inquiry in classrooms, particular to art education: (1) Personal Responses, (2) Studential Research Activities, and (3) Pedagogical Instructions.
Gilbert, J. K. (2008). Visualization: An emergent field of practice and enquiry in science education. Visualization: Theory and practice in science education, 3-24.
With science becoming more modern and advance, rudimentary portrays of complex science concepts through traditional material objects, pictures, diagram, graphs, and tables, may not be effective for learning in the current era. Through computer simulations and modeling, students may be more proficient at achieving familiarity in visualization and application.
Handelsman, J., Ebert-May, D., Beichner, R., Bruns, P., Chang, A., DeHaan, R., . . . Wood, W. B. (2004). Education. scientific teaching. Science (New York, N.Y.), 304(5670), 521-522. doi:10.1126/science.1096022 [doi]
Even though researches show that the most effective way to teach science is through scientific teaching, getting students to conduct rigorous scientific method, it’s not widely implemented in universities. The authors believe that the change will only happen if the administration implements the approach top-down.
Vavra, K. L., Janjic-Watrich, V., Loerke, K., Phillips, L. M., Norris, S. P., & Macnab, J. (2011). Visualization in science education. Alberta Science Education Journal, 41(1), 22-30.
Vavra et al., suggest that the scale at which science should be learned and practiced should be interdisciplinary, which includes scientific knowledge and context from indigenous traditional ecological knowledge. By integrating a more holistic approach which highlights the environmental, social-cultural, and scientific context, literacy in scientific education may progress and become more applicable to students in the Alberta school system.