Scale Analysis in K-8 Science Textbooks
This research analyzes how spatial, temporal, and numeric scale information is portrayed in K-8 science textbooks. It examines learners' challenges in understanding scale and the reliance on textbooks in science instruction, focusing on the use of images to convey scale concepts accurately.
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STORYTELLING IN GEOSCIENCE RESEARCH: AN ANALYSIS OF K-8 SCIENCE TEXTBOOKS AND THEIR TREATMENT OF SCALE IN ESS KIM A. CHEEK AND CAROLINE GEORGE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA
DEFINING SCALE* 1. SPATIAL, TEMPORAL, OR NUMERIC MAGNITUDE OF AN OBJECT OR EVENT; MEASURABLE IN STANDARD OR NONSTANDARD UNITS: KM, AU, DAYS, YEARS, MANY, SMALL, SHORT, LONG 2. SPATIAL, TEMPORAL, OR NUMERIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OBJECTS OR EVENTS; INCLUDES FORMAL PROPORTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND INFORMAL DESCRIPTORS: 1:625,000, LARGER, SMALLER, SHORTER, LONGER *(FROM CHEEK, LADUE, AND SHIPLEY, 2017)
LEARNERS UNDERSTANDING OF SCALE Crosscutting Concept in NGSS (Fick, 2018; Osborne et al., 2018) Widespread difficulty estimating spatial (Delgado et al., 2017; Jones et al., 2008, Tretter et al., 2006) and temporal (Catley & Novick, 2009; Cheek, 2013; Delgado, 2013; Trend, 2000) magnitude at extremes of scale Relative estimation better than absolute (Libarkin et al., 2007; Trend, 2000; Tretter et al., 2006) Number magnitude estimation improves with age (Siegler & Opfer, 2003) but remains challenging for adults at unfamiliar scales (Landy et al., 2016)
TEXTBOOKS IN SCIENCE INSTRUCTION Major driver of instructional content and delivery (Abd-El-Khalick et al., 2017) Figures (photographs, drawings, diagrams, maps, graphs, tables, timelines) are source of many of the examples of natural phenomena students see in classroom (Kelly, 2007) Relatively low self-efficacy of K-8 science teachers leads to overreliance on textbooks for instructional design and delivery
HOW DO IMAGES IN SELECT K-8 SCIENCE TEXTBOOKS DEPICT INFORMATION ABOUT SPATIAL, TEMPORAL, AND NUMERIC SCALE AS MAGNITUDE AND AS RELATIONSHIP?
METHODS MOST RECENT EDITIONS OF A SAMPLE OF K-8 SCIENCE TEXTBOOKS FOR CA, FL, AND TX, (3 PUBLISHERS = 70% OF U.S. TEXTBOOK MARKET) CONTENT ANALYSIS: ACCURACY OF SCALE INFORMATION, TYPE OF IMAGE (PHOTOGRAPH, DRAWING, MAP, TABLE GRAPH, TIMELINE) ANALYZED BY GRADE BANDS (K-2, 3-5, 6-8) ONLY IMAGES ON INSTRUCTIONAL PAGES, CODED ONCE, TIME LAPSE IMAGES SHOWING CHANGE OVER TIME (E.G., SHADOW LENGTH), CODED SINGLY
Astronomy Earth Materials & Processes Weather & Climate Grade Band Mean Images per Page Images Mean Images per Page Images Mean Images per Page Images Depicting Scale Depicting Scale Depicting Scale K-2 1.1 18% 1.6 10% 1.5 18% 3-5 1.3 27% 1.6 19% 1.6 18% 6-8 1.4 29% 1.4 16% 1.4 21% TABLE 1. MEAN NUMBER OF IMAGES AND PERCENTAGE DEPICTING SCALE BY GRADE BAND AND TOPIC AREA.
ACCURACY GREATER ACCURACY: K-2 IMAGES AS A WHOLE, TEMPORAL MAGNITUDE (ASTRONOMY AND WEATHER & CLIMATE), NUMERIC MAGNITUDE LESS ACCURACY: GR. 3-5 AND 6-8 AS A WHOLE, TEMPORAL MAGNITUDE (EARTH MATERIALS & PROCESSES), SPATIAL RELATIONSHIP (ASTRONOMY), TEMPORAL RELATIONSHIP (EARTH MATERIALS & PROCESSES)
Figure 1. Image Type Frequency by Topic Area and Grade Band 160 140 120 100 Frequency 80 60 40 20 0 Photograph Drawing Table Map Graph Timeline Image Type Astr. K-2 Astr. 3-5 Astr. 6-8 Earth Mat. K-2 Earth Mat. 3-5 Earth Mat. 6-8
CONCLUSIONS LIMITATIONS SCALE DEPICTED INFREQUENTLY; GRADE LEVEL AND TOPIC AREA DIFFERENCES INSUFFICIENT TIME TO DEVELOP NGSS- ALIGNED TEXTBOOKS ACCURACY VARIES WITH TOPIC AREA MEANING TEACHERS & STUDENTS MAKE OF IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHS AND DRAWINGS MOST COMMON IS CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING IMPROVED? MINIMAL OR NO SUPPORTING INFORMATION WHEN OBJECTS NOT TO SCALE TYPE OF SUPPORT TEACHERS NEED TO INTEGRATE SPQ NUMERIC MAGNITUDES ENCOUNTERED IN GR. 3-8 NOT EVIDENT IS IT FRUITFUL?
QUESTIONS? Kim A. Cheek k.cheek@unf.edu This research was supported by a University of North Florida Academic Affairs scholarship grant.
Table A. Examples of Images Coded Accurate, Confusing/Ambiguous, or Misrepresentation Coding Category Example Image Accurate Spatial Relationship Confusing/Ambiguous Spatial Relationship Topographic map with scale Partial Sun and Earth; because Sun is partially visible relative sizes are ambiguous 4 Earths in orbit around Sun at solstices and equinoxes; All Earths are same diameter as Sun Sand dunes with grain sizes labeled in mm Related images of sediments sorted by size but no indication if images are at the same level of magnification Saturn and Io; distance between them is too small Seafloor spreading showing older crust farther from mid-ocean ridge Debris flow with caption that says materials can move quickly Misrepresentation Spatial Relationship Accurate Spatial Magnitude Confusing/Ambiguous Spatial Magnitude Coding Category Example Image Accurate Spatial Relationship Confusing/Ambiguous Spatial Relationship Topographic map with scale Partial Sun and Earth; because Sun is partially visible relative sizes are ambiguous 4 Earths in orbit around Sun at solstices and equinoxes; All Earths are same diameter as Sun Sand dunes with grain sizes labeled in mm Related images of sediments sorted by size but no indication if images are at the same level of magnification Saturn and Io; distance between them is too small Seafloor spreading showing older crust farther from mid-ocean ridge Debris flow with caption that says materials can move quickly None found Devonian Sea with caption that says 380 Ma Steel and paper clips; caption says they last a long time Timeline not to scale None found None found None found Table listing number of moons of Jupiter Development of a rift valley; caption says numerous cracks develop None found None found Table listing number of moons of Jupiter Development of a rift valley; caption says numerous cracks develop None found Misrepresentation Spatial Relationship Misrepresentation Spatial Magnitude Accurate Temporal Relationship Accurate Spatial Magnitude Confusing/Ambiguous Spatial Magnitude Confusing/Ambiguous Temporal Relationship Misrepresentation Temporal Relationship Accurate Temporal Magnitude Confusing/Ambiguous Temporal Magnitude Misrepresentation Spatial Magnitude Accurate Temporal Relationship None found Devonian Sea with caption that says 380 Ma Steel and paper clips; caption says they last a long time Confusing/Ambiguous Temporal Relationship Misrepresentation Temporal Relationship Accurate Temporal Magnitude Confusing/Ambiguous Temporal Magnitude Misrepresentation Temporal Magnitude Accurate Numeric Relationship Confusing/Ambiguous Numeric Relationship Misrepresentation Numeric Relationship Accurate Numeric Magnitude Confusing/Ambiguous Numeric Magnitude Misrepresentation Temporal Magnitude Accurate Numeric Relationship Confusing/Ambiguous Numeric Relationship Misrepresentation Numeric Relationship Accurate Numeric Magnitude Confusing/Ambiguous Numeric Magnitude Timeline not to scale None found None found Misrepresentation Numeric Magnitude Misrepresentation Numeric Magnitude
