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Improving science teaching in multicultural settings: A qualitative study

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Abstract

This paper describes a qualitative study of a collaboration between the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the administration and science teachers of the Omaha (Nebraska) Public Schools to improve the learning environment in multicultural science classrooms. The study of the summer workshops and follow-up interactions is described, along with a description of the changes in teacher attitudes and beliefs toward culturally diverse students. The three major themes of the workshops (multicultural understanding, cooperative learning, and problem solving as a source of content) are presented. Qualitative data sources are used to describe and interpret the changes in teacher interactions with minority students that were observed during a three-year period.

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Johnson, J., Kean, E. Improving science teaching in multicultural settings: A qualitative study. J Sci Educ Technol 1, 275–287 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694408

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