models of reality. By immediately acknowledging that the models on the Internet were not all
perfect and asking able or older students to review them in the light of how effective they were at
illustrating the photoelectric effect, he enabled students to reflect on and review their own
understanding, reinforcing and consolidating the concepts being taught. B reported that:
Following the SDI the Year 12 students displayed a greater confidence in their use of
scientific terminology associated with the photoelectric effect and had gained a deeper
understanding of the concepts underpinning this.
He considered that as an activity
It worked very well and I think the fact that they were able to do it in their own time was a
better utilisation of time and didn’t have the associated problems with computers [in school].
The teacher also asked the students to compare the explanations given to them from the Web, from
himself and also from the textbook. In this way they could start to explore and check the scientific
explanations from these various sources. In effect they were engaging in meaning-making
activities which prompted them to contrast their own ideas with the scientific models. The role of
the teacher here is to promote cognitive change and he is employing a strategy advocated by Doise
& Mugny (1984) that states that group-generated conflict stimulates the joint construction of a
more advanced concept. This strategy has also proved effective for teaching science concepts to
primary school children (Howe, Tolmie & Anderson, 1991).
2.3 Conclusions and Recommendations
These science teachers moved on from their original perspective that simulation was an
impoverished version of practical work. Their reflections on the intrinsic properties of simulation
software confirmed the key areas of its potential to transform teaching and learning in science
lessons as summarised above and by Osborne and Hennessy (2003). The teachers concluded that
the following pedagogical strategies exploited these intrinsic properties and led to effective
teaching and learning:
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DRAFT