Impact of Model-Based Teaching on Argumentation Skills

Year 2014, Volume: 10 Issue: 1, 59 - 72, 01.04.2014

Deniz Eren Belek

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine effects of model-based teaching on students’ argumentation skills. Experimental design guided to the research. The participants of the study were pre-service physics teachers. The argumentative intervention lasted seven weeks. Data for this research were collected via video recordings and written arguments. Results show that construction of concrete models and using them in their discussions and explanations provide learners with more quality (accurate, consistent, appropriate, and relevant) arguments. In addition, models’ quality affects the number of claims, evidences and reasoning that are produced during argumentation. The closer learners’ models are to the real situations, the more argument components they generate

Keywords

Model-based teaching, argumentation, pre-service teachers

Feral Ogan-Bekiroglu

Abstract

References

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• First Argumentation: Seeing the Same Phase of the Moon
• Robert has been observing the Moon for ten days and concluded that we always see the
• same face of the Moon from the Earth.
• A) Please explain the reason of his conclusion by using the claims below. You can use a
• different claim other than the givens below.
• a) The Moon does not rotate on its axis.
• b) Both the Moon and the Earth rotate on their axes in the same period.
• c) The Moon rotates once on its axis at the same rate it revolves once around the Earth.
• d) Because Robert observed the Moon from the same location in the Earth, he made a
• mistake in his conclusion.
• e) Because Robert observed the Moon everyday at the same time, he made a mistake in his conclusion.
• f) The Moon rotates on its axis from South to North.
• B) Justify your explanation (individually).
• C) Use your initial model for your explanation. You may need to revise your initial model
• only in the experimental class].
• D) Discuss your explanation with your friends by providing your justification (as group).
• E) Use your model in your explanation [only in the experimental class].
• F) Finalize your group’s explanation.
• G) Decide on a model as a group [only in the experimental class].
• H) If your initial opinion changed, please write why your opinion changed.
• I) Explain your final explanation to other groups (by using your model [only in the
• experimental class]) (whole class discussion). Appendix-B
• Third Argumentation: Lunar Eclipse
• Three friends’ thoughts about how lunar eclipse occurs are as follows:
• A) Who do you think is correct about how lunar eclipse occurs? Is John, Jasmine or
• Daphne? Why? (individually).
• B) Discuss your opinion with your friends by providing your reasons (as group).
• C) Use your model in your discussion [only in the experimental class].
• D) Can your model help you to explain how lunar eclipse occurs? If not, how can you
• revise your model [only in the experimental class]?
• E) Make your group’s decision.
• F) If your initial opinion changed, please write why your opinion changed.
• G) Explain your final decision to other groups (by using your model [only in the
• experimental class]) (whole class discussion).
• Lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon gets
• between the Earth and the Sun.