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Early-years teaching of science in Cyprus : appreciation of young children's preconceptions
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Kambouri, Maria (2011) Early-years teaching of science in Cyprus : appreciation of young children's preconceptions. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.
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Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b2581846~S1
Abstract
The goal of this study is to investigate the area of young children’s
preconceptions in science. The research focuses on teachers working in public and
private kindergartens, and children attending these kindergartens, aged from three
to five and a half years old. The area of the children’s preconceptions, has been
extensively investigated by other researchers in the past but research focusing on
early-years teachers and children’s preconceptions is still almost untouched,
especially when talking about Cyprus. Inspired mostly by other countries’
literature and the importance of foreign research results, this study aims at
identifying the Cypriot teachers’ appreciation of the children’s preconceptions by
discovering whether teachers identify and take into account the children’s
preconceptions when planning and teaching a Natural Sciences lesson. It also
aims at giving suggestions and implications on how teachers can respond to the
preconceptions that children might have. To do this, a case study has been applied
to facilitate the utilization of a number of different methods, like questionnaires,
interviews, focus groups, observations and a minor document analysis. The results
indicate that teachers tend to avoid identifying the children’s preconceptions when
teaching Natural Sciences. This indicates that there is lack of appreciation of the
children’s preconceptions and their consequences when not acknowledged. It also
indicates that teachers in Cyprus are not aware of the constructivist theory and its
importance in children’s learning. As a result, teachers in Cyprus need to be better
trained and informed in regard to the children’s preconceptions and to Natural
Sciences in general. To help teachers respond to the children’s preconceptions, the
study develops a list of children’s common preconceptions and a number of
different ideas and suggestions for proper methods which can be used to help
teachers identify the children’s preconceptions and guide children to overcoming
them.
Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) | ||||
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Subjects: | L Education > LB Theory and practice of education | ||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Science -- Study and teaching (Early childhood) -- Cyprus | ||||
Official Date: | December 2011 | ||||
Dates: |
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Institution: | University of Warwick | ||||
Theses Department: | Institute of Education | ||||
Thesis Type: | PhD | ||||
Publication Status: | Unpublished | ||||
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: | Cassidy, Mike ; Briggs, Mary (Mary J.) | ||||
Extent: | 361 leaves : ill., charts | ||||
Language: | eng |
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