Abstract
In this study the concept reading nature and its contributions to science education is discussed. Some scientific concepts relevant for reading nature are defined. Reading nature has to do with the ability to recognise organisms and relate them to material cycling and energy flow in the specific habitat which is to be read. It has to do with authenticity where the natural world that we face outside is the book to be read and the tools we have are our experiences from previous learning situations both in and out-of-doors. The data in the study is based on the following student groups; student teachers, primary students in year 3-4 and secondary students in year 7-8. Finally a group of experienced teachers have contributed with data regarding their views on reading nature as a goal in science education.
The aims of the study are to describe how the ability to read nature can develop among the different student groups and to extract critical aspects for this developing ability. The extent to which reading nature in one ecosystem can transfer to another ecosystem is another aim of the study. The relevance of reading nature as a goal in science education is also studied by discussing the concept with experienced teachers and student teachers.
Data was collected mainly by interviews before and after instruction. The students were interviewed outdoors and they were basically asked to describe the ecosystem and explain why it looked the way it did. The main issues discussed in the interviews regarded the organisms and the non biological factors influencing the ecosystem, the ongoing cycles and processes in the ecosystem and finally the human influence on the ecosystem. Concept maps and video recorded field studies has supplemented the interviews in the analysis of student ability to read nature.
Prior to instruction all students found it difficult to read nature. Linking ecological theory to the authentic environment seems difficult to do. The school students followed teaching sequences aiming at developing their ability to read nature. Critical aspects for developing the ability to read nature had to do with developing an ecological language including ecological terminology as well as the naming of common organisms. An experience based ecological knowledge of a few common species was for many students a helpful link between taxonomy and systems ecology. The recognition of the morphological and behavioural characters of different functional groups together with the principles of the food pyramid model and the cycling of matter were three critical aspects guiding the reading of nature in a new ecosystem. Abstract processes such as photosynthesis and natural succession were difficult to grasp for most students and the field based instruction did not seem to support this learning. There was a strong support for reading nature as a goal in science education where the outdoor aspect of ecology was stressed and the implications for this has to do with supporting the future generation of teachers to study nature in the real context.
List of papers
The thesis is based on the following papers.
Paper I
Magntorn,O., & Helldén,G. (2005) Student-Teachers’ Ability to Read Nature: Reflections on their own learning in ecology. International Journal of Science Education 27 (10) 1229-1254.
Paper II
Magntorn,O., & Helldén,G. (2007) Reading new environments Students’ ability to generalise their understanding between different ecosystems. International Journal of Science Education 29 (1) 67-100.
Paper III
Magntorn,O., & Helldén,G. (2007) Reading nature from a ‘bottom-up’ perspective. Journal of Biological Education41 (2) 68-75.
Paper IV
Magntorn,O., & Helldén,G. (2006) Reading Nature- experienced teachers’ reflections on a teaching sequence in ecology: implications for future teacher training. NorDiNa- Nordic Studies in Science Education 5 67-81
For further information please contact Ola Magntorn at any of the following addresses:
ola.magntorn@mna.hkr.se or at Ola Magntorn, Kristianstad University 291 88 Kristianstad, Sweden or at the following telephone nr 46 44 20 34 40. The full thesis can be found as in a pdf format at: www.diva-portal.org/liu/abstract.xsql?dbid=8921
