TY - JOUR
T1 - Discourse, Cognition, and Chaotic Systems
T2 - An Examination of Students' Argument about Density
AU - Bloom, Jeffrey W.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research project was funded by a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (410–92–0110).
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - This article examines an extended argument about density among a small, multi-graded, middle school class of 10 students. The argument is examined from several perspectives with the primary focus on (a) the argument as an example of a chaotic and complex system, (b) the emerging development of understandings, and (c) the underlying cognitive structures affecting the students' understandings. Student talk during the class sessions were audio and videotape recorded. Each group of 3 or 4 students was individually audio recorded. A single video recorder was used to capture excerpts of each group's dialogue, as well as intergroup dialogue. The argument began after students predicted which of an assortment of different objects would or would not float. The specific case of a block of ebony initiated the argument and acted as the initial attractor, which developed into 2 opposing assertions: 1 side proposing that the pressure on a larger volume of water affects the density and the other side proposing that the molecules of water cannot be compressed. Extensive conceptual development occurred as the argument progressed with a variety of bifurcation points leading to new but related conceptual themes and higher levels of complexity. Several underlying structures, which have been referred to as interpretive frameworks (Bloom, 1992a) and p-prims (diSessa, 1993), played a central role in the development of both understandings and the argument itself. Such interpretive frameworks included (a) uniformity of molecular size and weight across different substances, (b) directionality of pressure, (c) external forces (e.g., gravity) affect pressure, (d) pressure affects density, and (e) surface area affects action of external forces on pressure.
AB - This article examines an extended argument about density among a small, multi-graded, middle school class of 10 students. The argument is examined from several perspectives with the primary focus on (a) the argument as an example of a chaotic and complex system, (b) the emerging development of understandings, and (c) the underlying cognitive structures affecting the students' understandings. Student talk during the class sessions were audio and videotape recorded. Each group of 3 or 4 students was individually audio recorded. A single video recorder was used to capture excerpts of each group's dialogue, as well as intergroup dialogue. The argument began after students predicted which of an assortment of different objects would or would not float. The specific case of a block of ebony initiated the argument and acted as the initial attractor, which developed into 2 opposing assertions: 1 side proposing that the pressure on a larger volume of water affects the density and the other side proposing that the molecules of water cannot be compressed. Extensive conceptual development occurred as the argument progressed with a variety of bifurcation points leading to new but related conceptual themes and higher levels of complexity. Several underlying structures, which have been referred to as interpretive frameworks (Bloom, 1992a) and p-prims (diSessa, 1993), played a central role in the development of both understandings and the argument itself. Such interpretive frameworks included (a) uniformity of molecular size and weight across different substances, (b) directionality of pressure, (c) external forces (e.g., gravity) affect pressure, (d) pressure affects density, and (e) surface area affects action of external forces on pressure.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035637947&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0035637947&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1207/S15327809JLS1004new_3
DO - 10.1207/S15327809JLS1004new_3
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0035637947
SN - 1050-8406
VL - 10
SP - 447
EP - 492
JO - Journal of the Learning Sciences
JF - Journal of the Learning Sciences
IS - 4
ER -