Ying Tao|Mary Oliver|Grady Venville
LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF EARLY CHILDHOOD SCIENCE EDUCATION: INSIGHTS FROM A CROSS-NATIONAL COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY ON CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE
University of Western Australia|University of Western Australia|University of Western Australia
purpose research explore longterm outcomes either participating participating early childhood science education grade 6 students conceptual understanding science research situated conceptual framework evokes piagetian developmental levels potential curriculum constraints potential models efficacy research design multiple case study grade 6 children 3 schools china n 140 started formal science education third grade grade 6 children 3 matched schools australia n 105 started learning science kindergarten students understanding assessed science quiz indepth interview data showed participating children high socioeconomic schools china australia similar understandings science divergence medium low socioeconomic schools however indicated grounding early childhood science education australia may placed children advantage alternative explanations divergence including nature classroom instruction two countries discussed