• Open Access

How middle level science teachers visualize and translate motion, scale, and geometric space of the Earth-Moon-Sun system with their students

Jennifer Wilhelm, Merryn Cole, Cheryl Cohen, and Rebecca Lindell
Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 14, 010150 – Published 15 June 2018
An article within the collection: Astronomy Education Research

Abstract

[This paper is part of the Focused Collection on Astronomy Education Research.] We examined teachers’ spatial-scientific reasoning and the alternative conceptions they held regarding Earth-space content. While participating in a professional development (PD) workshop, teachers engaged in an integrated mathematics and science project-based unit designed to foster spatial reasoning and improve lunar-related conceptual understanding. The Purdue Spatial Visualization Test-Rotation (PSVT-Rot) and the Lunar Phases Concept Inventory (LPCI) were used to assess understanding. We found the teachers held similar alternative conceptions as their students. Moreover, we discovered that teachers had limited understanding of the Earth-Moon-Sun scale, motions, and geometric configurations. To determine how teachers’ spatial-scientific confidence and ability translated to their classroom practice, we videotaped and analyzed instruction conducted by 6 teachers on an Earth-space lesson. Two teachers with the highest spatial-scientific confidence and ability had students achieving significant learning outcomes on both the PSVT-Rot and the LPCI.

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  • Received 10 May 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.14.010150

Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

Published by the American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

  1. Research Areas
Physics Education Research

Collections

This article appears in the following collection:

Astronomy Education Research

A special collection highlighting the current state of the field of physics education research as it relates to astronomy education research.

Authors & Affiliations

Jennifer Wilhelm1, Merryn Cole2, Cheryl Cohen3, and Rebecca Lindell4

  • 1Department of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, USA
  • 2Department of Teaching and Learning, University of Nevada Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, Nevada 89154, USA
  • 3Department of Psychology, Governors State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park, Illinois 60484, USA
  • 4Tiliadal STEM Education Solutions, 5 N 10th St Suite A-1, Lafayette, Indiana 47901, USA

Article Text

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Issue

Vol. 14, Iss. 1 — January - June 2018

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