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Qualitatively different ways of unpacking visual representations when teaching intermolecular forces in upper secondary school

Bibliographic Data

ID21392794
AuthorsEmelie Patron (0000-0002-9193-943X, Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences Linnaeus University Kalmar Sweden, corresponding author), Cedric Linder (0000-0001-6409-5182, Department of Physics and Astronomy Uppsala University Uppsala Sweden), Susanne Wikman (0000-0001-9810-5561, Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences Linnaeus University Kalmar Sweden)
Year2021
Volume105
Issue6
Pages1173-1201
Publication date2021-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueScience Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0036-8326 • E-ISSN: 1098-237X
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/sce.21662
OpenAlexW3167165030
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited57

Since visual representations play a particularly important role in the teaching and learning of chemistry, the exploration described in this article focuses on them. This is an explorative study of the qualitatively different ways that visual representations can be unpacked by Swedish upper secondary school chemistry teachers dealing with intermolecular forces. Unpacking is characterized as the ways that visual representations get used to open up the possibility of having the critical aspects and features of an intended object of learning being brought into focal awareness, initially on their own and then simultaneously. The analysis, which combines a phenomenographic and a social semiotic approach, leads to the characterizations of five qualitatively different ways that visual representations may be unpacked. These outcome categories are presented in terms of a conceptual hierarchy, where two of these ways of unpacking are characterized as being teacher‐centered and the other three as student‐centered. This leads to a case being made that if teachers use student‐centered ways of unpacking visual representations, then their students will be more likely to gain greater access to critical aspects and features of the enacted object of learning. We argue that in terms of making theoretical and practical contributions to the phenomenographic perspective on learning, the results can be used as a tool for researchers wishing to explore how visual representations can be used effectively in science education and also provide a useful basis for discussion in teacher education and in teacher professional development programs

Affordance · Cognitive psychology · Epistemology · Mathematics education · Object (grammar) · Pedagogy · Phenomenography · Science education · Semiotics · Unpacking · Computer Science · Educational Environments and Student Outcomes · Evaluation of Teaching Practices · Psychology · Science Education and Pedagogy

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  • Students’ Experiences of Teachers’ Ways of Unpacking Visual Representations in the Context of Intermolecular Forces

    Open Access•Emelie Patron, Cedric Linder et al.•Science Education•2026

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  • Multimodality

    Gunther Kress, Gunther R Kress•Multimodality•2009

  • Classroom Discourse and the Space of Learning

    Ference Marton, Amy B M Tsui et al.•Classroom Discourse and the Space…•2004

  • Relations between teachers' approaches to teaching and students' approaches to learning

    Open Access•Keith Trigwell, Michael Prosser et al.•Higher Education•1999

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  • Writing in Multimodal Texts

    Open Access•Jacob Bezemer, Jeff Bezemer et al.•Written Communication•2008

  • Phenomenography ? Describing conceptions of the world around us

    Open Access•Ference Marton•Instructional Science•1981

  • On Qualitative Differences in Learning-ii Outcome as a Function of the Learner's Conception of the Task

    Open Access•Ference Marton, R Säaljö•British Journal of Educational…•1976

  • On Qualitative Differences in Learning

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  • The Routledge Handbook of Multimodal Analysis

    Open Access•Charles Forceville, Charles J Forceville•Journal of Pragmatics•2010

Unique citing works8
Citations per year2
Citation span2022 - 2026 (5)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 8
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