The digitalization of science classes: beliefs and practices

Authors

  • Daniel Cassany Universitat Pompeu Fabra
  • Sílvia Llach Carles Universitat de Girona

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1344/der.2017.31.93-115

Keywords:

1x1, ciencias, lectura, escritura, creencias profesorado

Abstract

We describe and analyze educational beliefs encouraged by the implementation of the One Laptop Per Child program (OLPC) in Science classes across 9 secondary schools in Catalonia. Under the OLPC, classrooms are equipped with Wi-Fi, interactive whiteboards, a computer and an overhead projector; teachers and students work with a laptop computer, and textbooks are digital. Our data stem from in-depth semi-structured interviews with 22 teachers of Science and Technology subjects, who inform and critically assess their experience over the years in this technological context. Teachers’ beliefs about their subject of expertise and its teaching in relation to reading, writing and learning (through literacy practices), can be grouped into five categories: 1) Equipment, 2) Virtual Learning Environments (VLE), 3) Digital Textbooks, 4) Resources, and 5) Reading and Writing. Among others, we describe and interpret the following items: 1) why teachers are reluctant towards using mobile phones in the classroom, 2) why they prefer Moodle over other VLE, 3) how they criticize digital textbooks, and 4) how they find it difficult to teach scientific writing using keyboards –markedly scientific notation.

Author Biography

Daniel Cassany, Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Tenured lecturer (professor titular)

 

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Published

2017-06-28

Issue

Section

Peer Review Articles