Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Making sense of chemical equilibrium : productive teacher-student dialogues as a balancing act between sensemaking and managing tension

Hamnell-Pamment, Ylva LU orcid (2023) In Chemistry Education Research and Practice
Abstract
Navigating the observational, symbolic, and theoretical knowledge domains of chemistry is crucial for chemistry sensemaking. However, this has been shown to be particularly challenging for students of chemistry. In order to reach government standards for sensemaking in the chemistry subject, it is important to investigate how chemistry teachers can sustain sensemaking practices in their classrooms. In this study, conversation analysis was used to study videotaped teacher–student dialogues at upper secondary school practical lessons in
chemical equilibrium. Common patterns in how sensemaking was produced in interaction were found in four experienced chemistry teachers’ sensemaking dialogues with students. The data show how the teachers... (More)
Navigating the observational, symbolic, and theoretical knowledge domains of chemistry is crucial for chemistry sensemaking. However, this has been shown to be particularly challenging for students of chemistry. In order to reach government standards for sensemaking in the chemistry subject, it is important to investigate how chemistry teachers can sustain sensemaking practices in their classrooms. In this study, conversation analysis was used to study videotaped teacher–student dialogues at upper secondary school practical lessons in
chemical equilibrium. Common patterns in how sensemaking was produced in interaction were found in four experienced chemistry teachers’ sensemaking dialogues with students. The data show how the teachers use coordinated actions in conversations to create a balance between (1) managing sensemaking dialogues in the laboratory classroom on a moment-to-moment basis through connecting theory and experience, and (2) managing the tension between exposing students’ knowledge gaps and presenting the students as competent
as part of the interaction. The results of the study indicate that resolving tension in interaction is an important part of teacher–student sensemaking in chemistry, and also identify the chemical equation as a possible tool for sensemaking progression. The detailed examples of teacher–student sensemaking can be used as models for chemistry teachers interested in how sensemaking can be achieved practically. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
chemistry education, sensemaking, conversation analysis, chemical equilibrium, upper secondary school
in
Chemistry Education Research and Practice
pages
22 pages
publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
external identifiers
  • scopus:85175420516
ISSN
1756-1108
DOI
10.1039/d3rp00249g
project
Sensemaking in chemistry at upper secondary school
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
5d18b11c-c492-4022-b39e-e4fb99b79815
alternative location
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2023/RP/D3RP00249G
date added to LUP
2023-10-18 15:24:25
date last changed
2023-11-10 04:04:34
@article{5d18b11c-c492-4022-b39e-e4fb99b79815,
  abstract     = {{Navigating the observational, symbolic, and theoretical knowledge domains of chemistry is crucial for chemistry sensemaking. However, this has been shown to be particularly challenging for students of chemistry. In order to reach government standards for sensemaking in the chemistry subject, it is important to investigate how chemistry teachers can sustain sensemaking practices in their classrooms. In this study, conversation analysis was used to study videotaped teacher–student dialogues at upper secondary school practical lessons in<br/>chemical equilibrium. Common patterns in how sensemaking was produced in interaction were found in four experienced chemistry teachers’ sensemaking dialogues with students. The data show how the teachers use coordinated actions in conversations to create a balance between (1) managing sensemaking dialogues in the laboratory classroom on a moment-to-moment basis through connecting theory and experience, and (2) managing the tension between exposing students’ knowledge gaps and presenting the students as competent<br/>as part of the interaction. The results of the study indicate that resolving tension in interaction is an important part of teacher–student sensemaking in chemistry, and also identify the chemical equation as a possible tool for sensemaking progression. The detailed examples of teacher–student sensemaking can be used as models for chemistry teachers interested in how sensemaking can be achieved practically.}},
  author       = {{Hamnell-Pamment, Ylva}},
  issn         = {{1756-1108}},
  keywords     = {{chemistry education; sensemaking; conversation analysis; chemical equilibrium; upper secondary school}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  publisher    = {{Royal Society of Chemistry}},
  series       = {{Chemistry Education Research and Practice}},
  title        = {{Making sense of chemical equilibrium : productive teacher-student dialogues as a balancing act between sensemaking and managing tension}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/162292422/D3RP00249G.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1039/d3rp00249g}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}