Making sense of argumentation and explanation

Leema Kuhn Berland; Brian J. Reiser

doi:10.1002/sce.20286

journal article Dec 05, 2008

Making sense of argumentation and explanation

Leema Kuhn Berland Brian J. Reiser

Science Education Vol. 93 No. 1 pp. 26-55 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1002/sce.20286

Abstract

AbstractConstructing scientific explanations and participating in argumentative discourse are seen as essential practices of scientific inquiry (e.g., R. Driver, P. Newton, & J. Osborne, 2000). In this paper, we identify three goals of engaging in these related scientific practices: (1) sensemaking, (2) articulating, and (3) persuading. We propose using these goals to understand student engagement with these practices, and to design instructional interventions to support students. Thus, we use this framework as a lens to investigate the question: What successes and challenges do students face as they engage in the scientific practices of explanation and argumentation? We study this in the context of a curriculum that provides students and teachers with an instructional framework for constructing and defending scientific explanations. Through this analysis, we find that students consistently use evidence to make sense of phenomenon and articulate those understandings but they do not consistently attend to the third goal of persuading others of their understandings. Examining the third goal more closely reveals that persuading others of an understanding requires social interactions that are often inhibited by traditional classroom interactions. Thus, we conclude by proposing design strategies for addressing the social challenges inherent in the related scientific practices of explanation and argumentation. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed 93:26–55, 2009

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Metrics

453

Citations

64

References

Details

Published: Dec 05, 2008
Vol/Issue: 93(1)
Pages: 26-55
License: View

Authors

Learning Sciences, School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA

Cite This Article

Leema Kuhn Berland, Brian J. Reiser (2008). Making sense of argumentation and explanation. Science Education, 93(1), 26-55. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.20286

Making sense of argumentation and explanation

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