Field-study science classrooms as positive and enjoyable learning environments

We investigated differences between field-study classrooms and traditional science classrooms in terms of the learning environment and students’ attitudes to science, as well as the differential effectiveness of field-study classrooms for students differing in sex and English proficiency. A modified...

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Main Authors: Zaragoza, Julien M., Fraser, Barry
Format: Journal Article
Published: Springer 2017
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/44172
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author Zaragoza, Julien M.
Fraser, Barry
author_facet Zaragoza, Julien M.
Fraser, Barry
author_sort Zaragoza, Julien M.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description We investigated differences between field-study classrooms and traditional science classrooms in terms of the learning environment and students’ attitudes to science, as well as the differential effectiveness of field-study classrooms for students differing in sex and English proficiency. A modified version of selected scales from the What Is Happening In this Class? questionnaire was used to assess the learning environment, whereas students’ attitudes were assessed with a shortened version of a scale from the Test of Science Related Attitudes. A sample of 765 grade 5 students from 17 schools responded to the learning environment and attitude scales in terms of both their traditional science classrooms and classrooms at a field-study centre in Florida. Large effect sizes supported the effectiveness of the field-studies classroom in terms of both the learning environment and student attitudes. Relative to the home school science class, the field-study class was considerably more effective for students with limited English proficiency than for native English speakers.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-441722017-10-26T03:15:03Z Field-study science classrooms as positive and enjoyable learning environments Zaragoza, Julien M. Fraser, Barry We investigated differences between field-study classrooms and traditional science classrooms in terms of the learning environment and students’ attitudes to science, as well as the differential effectiveness of field-study classrooms for students differing in sex and English proficiency. A modified version of selected scales from the What Is Happening In this Class? questionnaire was used to assess the learning environment, whereas students’ attitudes were assessed with a shortened version of a scale from the Test of Science Related Attitudes. A sample of 765 grade 5 students from 17 schools responded to the learning environment and attitude scales in terms of both their traditional science classrooms and classrooms at a field-study centre in Florida. Large effect sizes supported the effectiveness of the field-studies classroom in terms of both the learning environment and student attitudes. Relative to the home school science class, the field-study class was considerably more effective for students with limited English proficiency than for native English speakers. 2017 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/44172 10.1007/s10984-016-9219-4 Springer fulltext
spellingShingle Zaragoza, Julien M.
Fraser, Barry
Field-study science classrooms as positive and enjoyable learning environments
title Field-study science classrooms as positive and enjoyable learning environments
title_full Field-study science classrooms as positive and enjoyable learning environments
title_fullStr Field-study science classrooms as positive and enjoyable learning environments
title_full_unstemmed Field-study science classrooms as positive and enjoyable learning environments
title_short Field-study science classrooms as positive and enjoyable learning environments
title_sort field-study science classrooms as positive and enjoyable learning environments
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/44172