Fifth Graders’ Learning About Simple Machines Through Engineering Design- Based Instruction Using LEGO™ Materials

This study is a subset of a larger research project named Transforming Elementary Science

Learning Through LEGO™ Engineering Design. For the purposes of the project, four

design-based elementary science curricular units were developed and implemented. These

curricular units include (a) Design a Musical Instrument: the Science of Sound, (b) Design a

Model House: the Properties of Materials, (c) Design an Animal Model: Animal Studies, and

(d) Design a People Mover: Simple Machines. In this study, they focused on the impact of the design

based curriculum on students’ contentunderstanding of simple machines. Students built models of

seesaws (levers), food mixers (wheel and axle), ramps (inclined planes), optical illusion devices

(gears), and pulley systems. As students designed and built models of real simple machines, they

learned how each simple machine works and how simple machines are different from complex

machines. Students not only built real-life models of simple machines, but also engaged in an inquiry

process and collected and analyzed data, interpreted results, and made reasonable explanations by

using inference.

1) Is there any way to use this approach more cheaper way then using LEGO?

2) Is it possible to use more flexible equipments then LEGO, to use in science teaching?

Fifth Graders’ Learning about Simple Machines through Engineering Design-Based Instruction Using LEGO Materials

This  Project drew heavily upon Sternberg’s triarchic intelligence theory in both the designand the structure of the research and assessment techniques. Engineering design challenges enable each of the three types of abilities analytical, practical and and creative based on Sternberg’s triarchic intelligence theory and the traditional memory skills wth in discipline on science.This study is subset of a larger research project named Transforming Elementary science Learning Through LEGO engineering design For the purposes of the project four design-based elementary  science curricular units were devoloped and implemented. The results of this study confirmed the results of previous research that engineering design can be used effectively to teach science content and that engineering design activities which encourage students to practice theoretical scientific principles in everyday contexts. Based on these comprehensive results they found the triarchic intelligence theory tobe a useful framework for designing effective curricula.As a result of their findings they are undertaking additional design work which is requrired to devolop focused and  effective activities to help ameliorate students' misconceptions about simple machines.

Question:
1)What is the role of the teacher in this method?

Design- Based Research

This article is about design based research.In this chapter, he presented two design based research projects in order to highlight the notion of theory-in-action as a core focus of this type of work. In the first example, he described how they used our design work to illuminate the limitation in their thinking with respect to a theory about evolving online community.Using the second example, he illustrated how they used design-based research to evolve a theoretical framework called learning engagement theory.

At the core of this design-based work is the conviction that because these innovations are informed by a particular theoretical perspective, the continual testing and refinement of what works can inform both theory and practice.Design-based research (DBR) is used to study learning in environments which are designed and systematically changed by the researcher. The goal of DBR is to use the close study of a single learning environment, usually as it passes through multiple iterations and as it occurs in naturalistic contexts, to develop new theories, artifacts, and practices that can be generalized to other schools and classrooms.

It is especially useful for understanding the underlying reasons why something is happening, or the conditions under which a particular interaction or occurrence could happen.DBR is the belief that the “factoring assumption” of experimental psychology is not valid in learning environments.
  In addition to understanding learning in complex environments and engineering new learning environments, DBR accomplishes. It improves learning for those participants in the study.

Questions: 1-How should teachers  be trained to design-based research?
                2-What are the negative aspects of the design-based research  ?

Design - Based Research

In this chapter design-based research and practices, and provides information about what it is.Design-based research, as amended by the researcher systematically designed and used to work in learning environments. Design-based research is aimed at a uniform learning environment, several new theories are not doing it again, works to create and develop applications that can be generalized to other schools and classes. Engineering sciences to design experiments to support the use of learning and learning styles. This system is transferred to theoretical knowledge into practice in daily life poured out. Electronic information network developed by the researchers mentioned In this chapter. Quest Atlantis deep educational content developed by the students, scientists are playing games. This is the student plays an active awareness of the social environment is the winner. Students will complete the work in these games, a variety of scientific tasks. This research was carried out to improve the teaching and learning process. Students learn the theoretical design-based learning and transmits information to the application when it develops itself in social terms.

Questions:

1. Design-based research, what is the role of teachers?

2. Quest Atlantis is a similar can be done in our country?

Fifth Graders’ Learning about Simple Machines through Engineering Design-Based Instruction Using LEGO Materials

Simple machines could use in every elementary science curriculum for teaching and engaging engineering activities. In this study aim that students’ misconception will dispel about simple machines and teachers’ insight will change. Students’ attention holds a long time with LEGO. LEGO provide that teaching and learning are flexible and visual. In addition to students are creative and tangible what they have learned. According to triarchic theory of Sternberg’ learners are governed by three aspects of intelligence (practical, analytical, and creative) and suggest ways of maximizing strengths and minimizing weaknesses. Design based theory include same structure with Sternberg‘s triarchic theory (analytical, creative, and practical) but design based theory add memory skills and more scientific inquiry. Students have experience with learning by design’s steps. These steps are existed two cycles: Design/redesign cycle and explore cycle. This research interests in design/redesign cycle. Because students not only learn science but also they connect everyday life experiences. In this study, researchers focused on Design a people mover: Simple machine unit and they implemented what they have developed curricula and module. This implementation takes eleven lessons and every lesson is 60 minutes. Students will gain these: explaining and identifying simple machines, recognizing simple machines help humans by decreasing and increasing the input.  In this study, researchers use pre-test and post-test. And they want to triangulate data for this; they make semistructred interviews before and after instruction. This study implemented two classrooms. First classroom exist 17 students and second exist 16 students. Classrooms ‘teacher who has more 15 years of teaching experience and she attended workshop about Design a people mover: Simple machines curriculum module. Finally this study results student significantly improved their tests and interviews scores. According to the study’s results engineering design could be effectively to teach science and encourage students for apply scientific inquiry. In addition to triarchic theory can be useful at framework for designing powerful curricula. And using LEGO in science teaching decreases students’ misconceptions.  My question:

1) This study used LEGO and triachich intelligent theory. If this research intelligent theory instead of used multiple intelligent theory, what would be the results? Or why researchers chose triarchic theory?

2) How much time requires training for teachers who don’t know LEGO implementation?