Sharing Multiple Ways of Representing an Idea in Models

Jan 11, 2024

Here, a teacher and coach invite 6th graders to represent their thinking about sound and how a singer shatters a glass. Watch a student, Keonie, describe their model and respond to questions, and see how the teacher records and links ways of representing sound.

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Equity

Honoring students’ intuitive ways of representing ideas can expand what counts as science and who participates. By making different representations available to the class, sense-making becomes a more collective and inclusive process.

Research

Check out a research article that describes how representation is an integral part of modeling: Schwarz, C. V., Reiser, B. J., Davis, E. A., Kenyon, L., Acher, A., Fortus, D., Shwartz, Y., Hug, B., & Krajcik, J. (2009). Developing a learning progression for scientific modeling: Making scientific modeling accessible and meaningful for learners. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 46(6), 632-654.

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