This study examined 6th graders' use of the VoiceThread app as part of a science inquiry project on photosynthesis and carbon dioxide emissions in terms of their ability to engage in causal reasoning and their use of the affordances of multimodality, collaboration, interactivity, and connectivity. Students employed multimodal production using…

How do teachers help children understand the difference between the structure of a flower and that of a root? Depending on the time of year this activity is quite easy. Get a bunch of flowers, germinate some chickpeas and raid the kitchen for carrots and beetroots--the children can experience the "real thing". But what if teachers want the…

Epistemic criteria are the standards used to evaluate scientific products (e.g., models, evidence, arguments). In this study, we analyzed epistemic criteria for good models generated by 324 middle-school students. After evaluating a range of scientific models, but before extensive instruction or experience with model-based reasoning practices,…

Contends that school science programs should return to the visionary programs of the 1960's, which developed logical thinking and problem solving. These have since given way to a barren emphasis on fact acquisition and "cookbook" lab activities. (TE)

Argues that science programs developed during the 1960's should be replaced by "science/technology/society" (S/T/S) programs, which build on students' curiosity and concern about local problems. (TE)