Using observation and measurement data in the constructing scientific explanations among elementary pre-service teachers

Abstract

Observing phenomena and constructing scientific explanations is an essential for a student, as well as for a teacher. This case study was conducted through one-on-one interviews to gain the process of constructing a scientific explanation, an in-depth understanding of the impact of observation and measurement data. The participants of this study were four elementary pre-service teachers who non-science majored. The participants observed footage of the burning process of a candle in an airtight glass container and constructed scientific explanations in the process of verifying the measurement data. The measurement data used in this study were obtained through measurement experiments with Arduino and sensors, which measured changes in temperature, humidity, pressure, oxygen, and carbon dioxide concentrations during the burning of candles. Participants described their thought processes aloud in the process of checking observation and measurement data. Each participant performed the same protocol procedure. Along the way, we were able to identify patterns in the use of observational and measurement data on how scientific explanations are constructed. Through the case analysis of this study, we suggested a model for the construction of scientific explanations in the process of using observational data.