Theme 2: Innovations Aimed at Higher Learning Outcomes
Science and Mathematics
Developing
students' conceptual understanding of chemistry using Knowledge Forum
Carol Chan, The University of Hong Kong, HK, China
Ivan Lam, Maryknoll Convent School, HK, China
Carol Chan, The University of Hong Kong, HK, China
Ivan Lam, Maryknoll Convent School, HK, China
This study aimed at developing students\'d5 conceptual understanding in chemistry through knowledge building and computer-supported collaborative discourse in a Hong Kong classroom.
Learning chemistry involves many abstract concepts and our focus is to examine student discourse with particular reference to authentic problems and improvable ideas. Participants were thirty-four Grade 10 students studying in a Catholic Girls\'d5 School. Whereas Hong Kong schools were suspended during the SARS period, students continued to work on Knowledge Forum from home, and some even developed authentic problems and ideas related to the SARS issues. Several measures from Analytic Toolkit, student reflection, and learning outcomes were obtained. Correlations showed that students\'d5 metacognitive knowledge was related to learning outcomes and some ATK indices. Students' discourse and their reflection on how they engaged in improving ideas and tackling real-life problems will be discussed.