Laboratory materials: Affordances or constraints?

Laboratory instruction is critical to the understanding of biology and is a central piece of biological sciences instruction. Although much investigation has focused on the content of biology laboratory exercises, we contend that understanding the extent to which the laboratory materials can aid or...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of research in science teaching 2011-11, Vol.48 (9), p.1010-1025
Main Authors: Jordan, Rebecca C., Ruibal-Villasenor, Maria, Hmelo-Silver, Cindy E., Etkina, Eugenia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
affordances
Biological Sciences
Biology
Comparative Analysis
Context Effect
Creativity
Expertise
inquiry practices
Investigations
Laboratories
Laboratory Equipment
Novices
Problem Solving
Research Design
science laboratory
Timing
Undergraduate Students
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Summary:Laboratory instruction is critical to the understanding of biology and is a central piece of biological sciences instruction. Although much investigation has focused on the content of biology laboratory exercises, we contend that understanding the extent to which the laboratory materials can aid or limit experimental investigation is of equal importance. In this study, therefore, we investigate the role of timing and availability of laboratory equipment in the context of two different laboratory exercises. We use both case study and an experimental approach to investigate how laboratory materials guide the planning, context, creativity, and timing of ideas shared among students. Our data support the notion that providing students with laboratory equipment before students plan and consider different experimental approaches can constrain students' ideas and encourage tool‐focused solutions to experimental design tasks. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 48: 1010–1025, 2011
ISSN:0022-4308
1098-2736
DOI:10.1002/tea.20418