The importance of discourse and attitude in learning astronomy. A mixed methods approach to illuminate the results of the TIMSS 2011 survey.
The TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) survey carried out in 2011 showed that Norwegian 8th graders reversed a declining trend in science achievement that had lasted almost two decades. However, the only sub-topic that contributed significantly to this turn-around was astr...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Danish |
| Published: |
University of Oslo
2014-04-01
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| Series: | Nordina: Nordic Studies in Science Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.uio.no/nordina/article/view/605 |
| _version_ | 1818081680065298432 |
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| author | Trude Nilsen Carl Angell |
| author_facet | Trude Nilsen Carl Angell |
| author_sort | Trude Nilsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) survey carried out in 2011 showed that Norwegian 8th graders reversed a declining trend in science achievement that had lasted almost two decades. However, the only sub-topic that contributed significantly to this turn-around was astronomy. The aim of this study is to explore factors that may have influenced the learning process and led to this high performance. We focused on the characteristics and influence of 1) attitudes towards astronomy and 2) practising astronomy discourse on 3) the conceptual understanding of astronomy. These three were investigated by questionnaire (n=200) and interview (n=32). The findings showed that these students’ reported discourse practices had an influence on their attitudes and that attitude towards astronomy was important to their conceptual understanding of this topic. Students’ attitudes reflected mostly interest and self-efficacy, and they reported practising astronomy discourse through media and discussions inside and outside of school. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T19:10:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5bc4a981efa44c46996eac141e2ae92b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1504-4556 1894-1257 |
| language | Danish |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T19:10:03Z |
| publishDate | 2014-04-01 |
| publisher | University of Oslo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nordina: Nordic Studies in Science Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-5bc4a981efa44c46996eac141e2ae92b2022-12-22T01:36:47ZdanUniversity of OsloNordina: Nordic Studies in Science Education1504-45561894-12572014-04-0110110.5617/nordina.605The importance of discourse and attitude in learning astronomy. A mixed methods approach to illuminate the results of the TIMSS 2011 survey.Trude Nilsen0Carl Angell1Department of Teacher Eductation and School Research. University of Oslo.Department of PhysicsThe TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) survey carried out in 2011 showed that Norwegian 8th graders reversed a declining trend in science achievement that had lasted almost two decades. However, the only sub-topic that contributed significantly to this turn-around was astronomy. The aim of this study is to explore factors that may have influenced the learning process and led to this high performance. We focused on the characteristics and influence of 1) attitudes towards astronomy and 2) practising astronomy discourse on 3) the conceptual understanding of astronomy. These three were investigated by questionnaire (n=200) and interview (n=32). The findings showed that these students’ reported discourse practices had an influence on their attitudes and that attitude towards astronomy was important to their conceptual understanding of this topic. Students’ attitudes reflected mostly interest and self-efficacy, and they reported practising astronomy discourse through media and discussions inside and outside of school.https://journals.uio.no/nordina/article/view/605astronomyattitudediscourseTIMSS 2011conceptual understanding |
| spellingShingle | Trude Nilsen Carl Angell The importance of discourse and attitude in learning astronomy. A mixed methods approach to illuminate the results of the TIMSS 2011 survey. Nordina: Nordic Studies in Science Education astronomy attitude discourse TIMSS 2011 conceptual understanding |
| title | The importance of discourse and attitude in learning astronomy. A mixed methods approach to illuminate the results of the TIMSS 2011 survey. |
| title_full | The importance of discourse and attitude in learning astronomy. A mixed methods approach to illuminate the results of the TIMSS 2011 survey. |
| title_fullStr | The importance of discourse and attitude in learning astronomy. A mixed methods approach to illuminate the results of the TIMSS 2011 survey. |
| title_full_unstemmed | The importance of discourse and attitude in learning astronomy. A mixed methods approach to illuminate the results of the TIMSS 2011 survey. |
| title_short | The importance of discourse and attitude in learning astronomy. A mixed methods approach to illuminate the results of the TIMSS 2011 survey. |
| title_sort | importance of discourse and attitude in learning astronomy a mixed methods approach to illuminate the results of the timss 2011 survey |
| topic | astronomy attitude discourse TIMSS 2011 conceptual understanding |
| url | https://journals.uio.no/nordina/article/view/605 |
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