ERIC Number: EJ1218470
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2077-2327
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Thai Science Educators' Perspectives on Students' Prior Knowledge: A Documentary Research
Ladachart, Luecha; Ladachart, Ladapa
Science Education International, v30 n2 p116-127 2019
According to constructivist theory, learning is a construction of new knowledge based on prior knowledge. As a consequence, science teachers are encouraged to take students' prior knowledge into account. It is evident in many cases that although students' prior knowledge is often not consistent with scientific knowledge, they may have some potential to be developed. Thus, science teachers should not consider only the limitations of students' knowledge but also its potential. Science educators should model how to advance students' prior knowledge. However, research is lacking in this concern as specifically related to science educators. This research uses a documentary analysis of 78 empirical studies and academic articles to examine the perspectives of Thai science educators regarding students' prior knowledge. The results reveal that Thai science educators tend to perceive and approach students' prior understandings as a learning obstacle rather than as a cognitive resource with which science teachers can work to facilitate students' learning. An implication is that Thai science educators may need to be made aware of their perspectives on students' prior knowledge to appropriately communicate to and model for science teachers.
Descriptors: Prior Learning, Science Instruction, Science Teachers, Foreign Countries, Teacher Attitudes, Teacher Student Relationship, Educational Change, Constructivism (Learning), Scientific Attitudes, Scientific Concepts, Misconceptions
International Council of Associations for Science Education. Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Education, Buca, Izmir 35150, Turkey. Tel: +90-532-4267927; Fax: +90-232-4204895; Web site: http://www.icaseonline.net/journal/index.php/sei/index
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Information Analyses
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Thailand
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