ERIC Number: EJ1438735
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 27
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0950-0693
EISSN: EISSN-1464-5289
Investigating Students' Meaning-Making of Multiple Visual Representations of Epigenetics at Different Levels of Biological Organisation
International Journal of Science Education, v46 n14 p1405-1431 2024
The aim of this study is to investigate students' meaning-making of multiple visual representations of epigenetics at different levels of biological organisation, and to discern what visual aspects of the multiple visual representations might influence students' reasoning. Adopting an exploratory approach, we analysed how students made meaning of visually communicated epigenetics phenomena while pointing at and reasoning about the multiple visual representations as part of semi-structured focus groups. We investigated students' meaning-making of the multiple visual representations by analysing their indications through physical pointing and accompanying verbal utterances. The analysis revealed meaning-making and the nature of linking between levels of organisation in four distinct patterns, namely "intra horizontal linking, inter horizontal linking, one level vertical linking" and "two level vertical linking." In addition, five different visual characteristics of the multiple visual representations emerged as influencing students' reasoning while linking between different organisation levels: "multiple visual representations, salient visual features, analogous visual features, familiar visual elements," and "textual adjuncts." The study shows that multiple visual representations at different levels of organisation can support students' meaning-making of epigenetics, indicating that this way of communicating can be transferable to other biological domains. Potential implications for future research and teaching practice are provided.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Grade 9, Science Education, Genetics, Visual Aids, Teaching Methods, Learning Processes, Student Behavior
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 9; High Schools; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Sweden
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A