| Popis: |
We designed and implemented two learning activity sequences with a focus on modelling and simulating trophic relations in marine ecosystems. Both implementations involved fifth graders, in two different samples (n = 24 for the first and n = 23 for the second sequence). The sequences differed only in the method used for undertaking modelling and simulations, which was a role-playing game, in the first sequence, and the Stagecast Creator software, in the second sequence. The sequences started with an introductory video, and then, students were asked to make a model of the observed phenomena in the form of a drawing. After revisiting preselected segments of the video and elaborating on modelling aspects of trophic relations, student models were refined in subsequent cycles of model-based inquiry. Students used either the role-playing game (first sequence) or Stagecast Creator (second sequence) to revise and enrich their models. Assessment tasks were administered in a pre-post arrangement to address inter-contextual transfer of student skills. Our findings revealed that the use of Stagecast Creator was more beneficial for students in terms of tracking the consequences of hypothetical changes in food webs and accounting for multi-directionality and uncertainty of effects across food webs. |
