TITLE

A scaffolding framework to support the construction of evidence-based arguments among middle school students

AUTHOR(S)

Belland, Brian; Glazewski, Krista; Richardson, Jennifer

PUB. DATE

August 2008

SOURCE

Educational Technology Research & Development;Aug2008, Vol. 56 Issue 4, p401

SOURCE TYPE

Academic Journal

DOC. TYPE

Article

ABSTRACT

Problem-based learning (PBL) is an instructional approach in which students in small groups engage in an authentic, ill-structured problem, and must (1) define, generate and pursue learning issues to understand the problem, (2) develop a possible solution, (3) provide evidence to support their solution, and (4) present their solution and the evidence that supports it (Barrows, How to design a problem-based curriculum for the preclinical years. Springer Publishing, New York, ). However, research has shown that novice problem-solvers and learners without deep content knowledge have difficulty developing strong evidence-based arguments (Krajcik et al., J Learn Sci 7:313�350, ; Reiser, J Lear Sci 13(3):273�304, ). In this paper, we discuss the components of (e.g., claims and evidence) and processes of making (e.g., define problem and make claim) evidence-based arguments. Furthermore, we review various scaffolding models designed to help students perform various tasks associated with creating evidence-based arguments (e.g., link claims to evidence) and present guidelines for the development of computer-based scaffolds to help middle school students build evidence-based arguments.

ACCESSION #

32729600

Tags: PROBLEM-based learning;  ACTIVE learning;  PROBLEM solving;  CRITICAL thinking;  MIDDLE school students;  EDUCATIONAL technology

 

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