Educational Reconstruction of Coastal Dynamics for Extracurricular Learning Venues

Using the Model of Educational Reconstruction to improve Extracurricular Learning

Abstract

Many extracurricular learning venues located near the German Wadden Sea are lacking explanations and models that are suitable for explaining the physical dynamics of the coast. The operators report that visitors ask questions about currents and structure formation phenomena that neither they nor their educational offerings can answer. The present study addresses this deficit. The study is part of an overarching project that is funded by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU). The overarching DBU project aims to develop exhibits for extracurricular learning venues that also represent the physical view on the dynamics of the coast. The present study contributes to this overarching project insofar as an educational reconstruction of the physical dynamics of the coast was carried out, which aimed to formulate educational guidelines. In the first step of the Model of Educational Reconstruction, the concept of elementarization was used to analyze the subject matter structure of coastal dynamics by elucidating the basic scientific ideas in the subject area. These include processes of equalization and self-organization that explain currents and structure formations in granular matter. In the second step, the learners’ conceptions of currents and structure formations on the coast were examined with an interview study. On the one hand, it was investigated what the terms “current” and “structure formation” mean from the learners’ viewpoint. On the other hand, it was examined which physical concepts are used by the learners to explain both phenomena. In the third and final step, the basic physical principles were being compared with the learners’ perspectives. Based on this comparison, educational guidelines were formulated. In the overarching DBU project, these guidelines serve to support cooperation between science education researchers, operators of the extracurricular learning venues, and the exhibition design agencies to develop new exhibits.