Thursday, April 1
1:45 PM-2:05 PM
EDT
Room 6

A case study of exploring middle school students’ learning experiences in a science summer camp

Full Paper (Live Presentation ID: 58566
  1. aaa
    Pi-Sui Hsu
    Northern Illinois University
  2. aaa
    Margot Van Dyke
    Butler Junior High School

Abstract: The purpose of the current study was to explore middle school students’ learning experiences at a summer science camp. A total of 26 Taiwanese students and 16 U.S. students participated in a four-day “Argue like a Scientist” summer camp held in a large university in Midwestern United States. The researchers videotaped the classroom interaction among the students with a digital camcorder. The researchers also videotaped and conducted observation of the students’ participation in various activities in the summer camp. The students were required to fill out a survey on the fourth day. Three themes emerged from data analysis. First, regardless of cultural background, age, or gender, all students actively constructed their understanding of alternative energies by participating in all hands-on activities such as conducting research of different types of alternative energies as well as building and racing their solar cars. Second, regardless of cultural background, age, or gender, all students were engaged in the discussion and exploration of a real-word meaningful problem: “Which alternative energy is the best?” Third, regardless of cultural background, age, or gender, all students engaged in the social interactions with the support of a cognitive tool. Overall, the summer camp incorporated four principles (active construction, situated learning, social interaction, and cognitive tool) of project-based learning, which shows the potential for engaging students in science.

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