Abstract
Understanding science involves the mastery of complex networks of concepts. To design effective computer based systems for learning science it is essential to adequately characterize the nature of those conceptual networks, so that clear and appropriate instructional goals can be defined and fed into the design process. This paper considers a novel class of representations for science instruction — Law Encoding Diagrams (LEDs) — and describes the nature of scientific understanding based on these representations. A framework of four classes of schemas has been proposed to characterizes problem solving and learning with LEDs. How the framework encompasses complex networks of concepts is discussed and the implications for the design of computer based learning environments based on LEDs are considered.
Résumé
La compréhension scientifique implique la maîtrise de réseaux complexes de concepts. Pour préparer des systèmes informatiques de base efficaces pour apprendre les sciences il est essentiel de caractériser de façon adéquate la nature de ces réseaux de concepts, de telle sorte que des buts didactiques clairs et appropriés puissent être définis et introduits dans la conception du projet. L’article examine une nouvelle classe de représentations pour l’enseignement scientifique — Law Encoding Diagrams (LEDs) — et décrit la nature d’une compréhension scientifique basée sur ces représentations. Un ensemble structuré de quatre classes de schémas a été proposé pour caractériser la résolution de problèmes et l’apprentissage avec LEDs. La discussion porte sur les réseaux complexes de concepts inhérents à ce cadre de et on en examine les implications pour la conceptions d’environnements d’apprentisages informatisés basés sur LEDs.
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This work was supported by the U.K. Economic and Social Research Council through the Centre for Research in Development, Instruction and Training.
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Cheng, P.CH. Networks of law encoding diagrams for understanding science. Eur J Psychol Educ 14, 167–184 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03172964
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03172964