Schools teaching models

Harrison (2000) interviewed ten experienced high school science teachers (two of them were chemistry teachers) about their understanding of both the nature of models and some of the teaching models they use in providing explanations for their classes. As part of the interview, the teachers were asked to comment on Gilbert s assertion that... 

As often in school science, here we are presenting a model. It is a model that has limitations and advanced students will go on to meet more sophisticated ideas. This need not be problematic, as long as (a) we are explicit that we are teaching models and (b) our students understand that developing such models is a core part of... 

School Innovation in Science (SIS) is the largest school science initiative of its kind in Australia in decades. The project has been a major part of a set of initiatives developed by the Victorian Department of Education and Training (DE T). During 2000 to 2002, the Deakin University-based research team worked with more than 200 primary and secondary schools to develop and trial a model for improving science teaching and learning in schools. The model has two major features ... 

The QuakeCaster is a hands-on teaching model, simulating earthquakes and their interactions to help students explore and test the four leading hypotheses for earthquake occurrence. The experiment is meant for secondary school students, but might catch attention to younger students. Here we present a modified version of the QuakeCaster (Linton and Stein 2012) that allows additional inferences on earthquakes occurrence. 

Grosslight, E., Unger, C., Jay, E., Smith, C. E. (1991). Understanding models and their use in science conceptions of middle and high school students and experts. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 28(9), 799-822. 

The homework assignments related to everyday life provided excellent students feedback. Despite not being foreseen in the LON teaching plan, due to great student interest, we prepared an exhibition of different home-made models for the coal-burning reaction. Most students were very inventive in the selection of materials for home made models to represent chemical reaction at the particle level. [Teacher from School N° 3, additional lesson after Section 2]... 

It is becoming abundantly clear that males and females learn in different ways. In response to this, a few model schools are separating the sexes so that classes are all one gender. By doing this, the teacher can focus on teaching to that sex s primary learning styles. 

Models In teaching of science models are very frequently used. Various costly models are available and some of these may be available and in school laboratory. However the cost of such models should not be any hindrance to the use of models as teaching aid because a science teacher can prepare... 

Models. In teaching of science models are very frequently used. Various costly models are available and some of these may be available and in school laboratory. However the cost of such models should not be any hindrance to the use of models as teaching aid because a science teacher can prepare almost all types of models by making use of ingenuity. It is also possible to take some very costly models on loan or such models can even be hired. Models are very helpful in making the subject clear to the students and they also give the student an idea of the actual shape/size etc. of the article under discussion. 

These statements made by pupils after several hours of lessons drive every teacher to despair and make him or her wonder what went wrong in his or her teaching about small particles. The introduction of the particle concept is and remains difficult and cannot be mastered within a few school hours. Beginners start slowly and with many questions, arise at their first model concept of particles and their arrangement. 

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