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Conceptual Understanding of the DNA Molecule Through Model Building at the Initial Learning Stage.

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Title: Conceptual Understanding of the DNA Molecule Through Model Building at the Initial Learning Stage.
Authors: Garofalo, Salvatore G.1 (AUTHOR) sgarofalo@qc.cuny.edu
Source: Journal of Science Education & Technology. Feb2025, Vol. 34 Issue 1, p88-102. 15p.
Subject Terms: *Scientific ability, *Teaching methods, Scientists' attitudes, Spatial ability, Scientific method
Abstract: The initial learning experience is a critical opportunity to support conceptual understanding of abstract STEM concepts. Although hands-on activities and physical three-dimensional models are beneficial, they are seldom utilized and are replaced increasingly by digital simulations and laboratory exercises presented on touchscreen tablet computers. The purpose of this study is to measure the effectiveness of different pedagogical strategies (physical model building, digital model building, or traditional paper worksheets) on short-term and long-term conceptual understanding of an abstract STEM concept. A sample of 161 9th-grade students in six in-tact science classes participated in the study. Conceptual understanding was measured using an objective quiz, a drawing, and a hand-written constructed response explanation. Conceptual understanding was measured immediately after intervention and again two months later. To account for potential covariates, spatial ability and attitudes to scientific inquiry were measured and a conceptual understanding pre-test was administered. For both immediate and delayed post-tests, there were no differences among the groups for the objective quiz measure. However, the physical model group outperformed the digital model and control groups in both the drawing and constructed response measures at both timepoints (p < 0.01). Spatial ability was a significant covariate for objective quiz and drawing measures. Attitudes were not significant throughout. These results suggest that, at the initial learning experience, hands-on manipulation of three-dimensional physical models better aids conceptual understanding in the short term and the long term when compared to two-dimensional touchscreen devices and that assessments should move beyond objective-based exams to accurately measure conceptual understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Science Education & Technology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: The initial learning experience is a critical opportunity to support conceptual understanding of abstract STEM concepts. Although hands-on activities and physical three-dimensional models are beneficial, they are seldom utilized and are replaced increasingly by digital simulations and laboratory exercises presented on touchscreen tablet computers. The purpose of this study is to measure the effectiveness of different pedagogical strategies (physical model building, digital model building, or traditional paper worksheets) on short-term and long-term conceptual understanding of an abstract STEM concept. A sample of 161 9th-grade students in six in-tact science classes participated in the study. Conceptual understanding was measured using an objective quiz, a drawing, and a hand-written constructed response explanation. Conceptual understanding was measured immediately after intervention and again two months later. To account for potential covariates, spatial ability and attitudes to scientific inquiry were measured and a conceptual understanding pre-test was administered. For both immediate and delayed post-tests, there were no differences among the groups for the objective quiz measure. However, the physical model group outperformed the digital model and control groups in both the drawing and constructed response measures at both timepoints (p &lt; 0.01). Spatial ability was a significant covariate for objective quiz and drawing measures. Attitudes were not significant throughout. These results suggest that, at the initial learning experience, hands-on manipulation of three-dimensional physical models better aids conceptual understanding in the short term and the long term when compared to two-dimensional touchscreen devices and that assessments should move beyond objective-based exams to accurately measure conceptual understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: &lt;i&gt;Copyright of Journal of Science Education &amp; Technology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder&#39;s express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.&lt;/i&gt; (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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              Text: Feb2025
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