• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1077-1091
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of argumentation-based general chemistry laboratory on preservice science teachers' chemistry concepts understanding and writing. Five topics about argumentation-based general chemistry laboratory activities were developed using Science Writing Heuristic (SWH) approach. Summary Writing Test, and Chemistry Concepts Test were developed as tools to examine the effects of this approach. Both Argumentation-based general chemistry laboratory activities and traditional general chemistry laboratory activities were implemented for the experimental group (23 students), and traditional general chemistry laboratory activities were implemented for the comparative group (16 students). Results of this study indicated that there were significant differences in both groups' chemistry concepts understanding and summary writing. The experimental group showed significantly higher mean score than comparative group in chemistry concepts understanding and summary writing. In the analysis of the sub-component of Summary Writing, there were no significant difference between both groups in 'Big Idea.' However, the experimental group gained significantly higher mean score in 'argumentation,' 'understanding of science concepts,' and 'rhetoric structure.' The results showed that argumentation-based general chemistry laboratory programs were effective in achieving chemistry concepts understanding and writing in general chemistry laboratory.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.931-941
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• 2011

This study aimed to examine the effects of argument-based chemistry laboratory investigations using the Science Writing Heuristic (SWH) approach on students' use and embedding of multimodal representations in summary writing. Participants of this study were thirty-nine freshman students majoring in science education at a National University in Korea. Argument-based chemistry laboratory investigations using the SWH approach were implemented for twenty-three students enrolled in one cohort, and the traditional chemistry laboratory teaching was implemented for 16 students enrolled in the other cohort. Summary writing samples were collected from students before and after the implementation. Summary writing samples produced by students were examined using an analysis framework for examining the use and embeddedness of multimodal representations. Summary writing was categorized into one of verbal mode, symbolic mode, and visual mode. With regard to the embedding of multi-modal representations, summary writing samples were analyzed in terms of 'constructing understanding,' 'integrating multiple modes,' 'providing valid claims and evidence,' and 'representing multiple modes.' Data analysis shows that the students of the SWH group were better at utilizing and embedding multimodal representations in summary writing as they provided evidence supporting their claims. This study provides important implications on pre-service science teacher education.