A review of research trends in science education identified student conceptions and context as the most researched areas, yet the relationship between these two aspects remains under-researched specifically in physics education. This research explores 27 Bruneian students’ ideas about electricity across time, using one pre-test and two post-tests. It also includes ‘instructional contexts’ which are defined as the representations of questions used in the study and the usage of tools (i.e. pen and paper, hands-on practical and computer simulation) provided to the students during problem-solving activities. This study adopts a theoretical framework that recognises similarities between the cognitive-individual and socio-cultural views, two main learning theories in science, which subsequently influence the research methods used. In order to analyse students’ ideas across time, a quantitative analysis i.e. item analysis and descriptive analysis were used. As to analysing students’ ideas across instructional contexts, a thematic framework analysis and a framework linked to ‘activity theory’ that focuses more on qualitative methods were employed for data collection and analysis. Using this mixed method approach, this study has found that the dynamic nature of students’ conceptual structure of a concept can be coherent and stable, fragmented or a combination of both at the same time. Furthermore, different representations of circuit elements can influence students’ responses, and tensions were observed during students’ interactions with the different tools provided. The outcomes provide some new ground for structuring a curriculum at the micro-level and possible applications to other central concepts in science education.

Authors:
Marlizayati Johari, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Brunei

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Marlizayati is currently an assistant professor at Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education (SHBIE), Universiti Brunei Darussalam. Currently, she is a member of a research team dedicated to exploring STEM education.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Wednesday Schedule

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