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Interpolation and extrapolation in Year 5 STEM activities: exploring data about viscosity without advanced statistics

Version 2 2024-11-03, 23:30
Version 1 2023-10-23, 02:55
journal contribution
posted on 2024-11-03, 23:30 authored by Jane WatsonJane Watson, Noleine FitzallenNoleine Fitzallen, Ben Kelly

Incorporating an evidence-based approach in STEM education using data collection and analysis strategies when learning about science concepts enhances primary students’ discipline knowledge and cognitive development. This paper reports on learning activities that use the nature of viscosity and the power of informal statistical inference to build students’ conceptual understanding of interpolation and extrapolation without imposing on them the demands of understanding the nonlinear mathematics used to explore the concepts at the tertiary level. An exploratory research strategy was adopted to investigate the way in which Year 5 students created and analysed graphical representations from data collected when performing viscosity experiments. The data representations produced by the students and their subsequent predictions were analysed using the Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes (SOLO) model as adapted specifically for graphical representations. The results illustrate that when provided with appropriate technological tools to scaffold student learning, in this case TinkerPlots™, development of students’ appreciation of interpolation and extrapolation within meaningful data contexts across the STEM curriculum does not have to wait until the tertiary level.

History

Publication title

Mathematics Education Research Journal

Volume

36

Issue

4

Pagination

34

eISSN

2211-050X

ISSN

1033-2170

Department/School

Office of the Faculty of Education, Peter Underwood Centre for Educational Attainment

Publisher

SPRINGER

Publication status

  • Published online

Rights statement

Copyright 2023 the authors. This is an open access article licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

4 Quality Education