Semantic Waves for Revealing Different Levels of Knowledge in Middle-School Science Classes

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution to proceedingpeer-review

Abstract

This paper reports on an educational research and development project in
progress. The project aims to make science lessons in the Danish middle-school
(grades 4-6) more accessible to all students by increasing science-teachers’
awareness of the linguistic challenges second-language learners in particular
(can) encounter in science lessons and materials. The aim of the paper is to
demonstrate teacher-development and strategies for making ‘science knowledge’ visible to all students by integrating meaningful language work in science lessons. The project takes its point of departure in an understanding of students’ learning where linguistic interactions are seen as crucial for accessing scientifc understandings. In the paper we introduce an analytical approach using semantic waves from Legitimation Code Theory (LCT). Observations and transcriptions of conversations from 4th grade science lessons provide data for semantic gravity analysis, which leads to discussions of how awareness of semantic waves can encourage teachers to integrate language activities in science lessons in order to scafold their students’ science understandings and participation.
Translated title of the contributionSemantiske bølger til synliggørelse af forskellige vidensniveauer i mellemtrinnets N/T-undervisning
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings Book Series
EditorsMetin Sardag, Gokhan Kaya, Mehmet Sogut
Volume1
Publication dateSept 2024
Pages530-539
ISBN (Electronic)9786253939090
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2024
EventTHE 15TH CONFERENCE OF THE EUROPEAN SCIENCE EDUCATION RESEARCH ASSOCIATION (ESERA): THE 15TH CONFERENCE OF THE EUROPEAN SCIENCE EDUCATION RESEARCH ASSOCIATION - Hacettepe University, Cappadocia, Turkey
Duration: 28 Aug 20231 Sept 2023
Conference number: 15
https://www.esera2023.net/

Conference

ConferenceTHE 15TH CONFERENCE OF THE EUROPEAN SCIENCE EDUCATION RESEARCH ASSOCIATION (ESERA)
Number15
LocationHacettepe University
Country/TerritoryTurkey
CityCappadocia
Period28/08/2301/09/23
Internet address

Keywords

  • education, professions and jobs
  • middle-school science teaching
  • Legitimation Code Theory
  • learning, educational science and teaching
  • literacy in science
  • Media, communication and languages

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