1 Questioning Strategies in the Early Years Science Activity and Discourse Diane Harris PhD Research Plan

2 Requirements of the DfES The ‘Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage’ was introduced in September 2000 and became a statutory requirement on 27th July It applies to children aged 3 to 5 years old who may be in a range of settings: nursery, pre-school, playgroup, reception class, with a child minder or at home.

3 The Foundation Stage document identifies six areas of learning: Personal, social and emotional development Communication, language and literacy Mathematical development Knowledge and understanding of the world Physical development Creative development

4 Each area of learning has its own Early Learning Goals Knowledge and understanding of the world includes four early learning goals which relate to science under the heading of ‘Exploration and Investigation’

5 Exploration and Investigation 1Investigate objects and materials by using all of the senses as appropriate. 2Find out about, and identify, some features of living things, objects and events they observe. 3Look closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change. 4Ask questions about why things happen and how things work.

6 Reasons for the Research I teach trainee primary school teachers to teach science and, based on the science literature available, I have to advocate the use of open- ended questions. To gain experience of working with the new ‘Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage’, I worked as a volunteer in a nursery during the summer of Many of the children there appeared confused by open-ended questions.

7 What could be causing the problem? The vocabulary and grammar used by the teacher and understood by the child. The maturity of the children’s language generally. It might be my fault– the way I am asking the questions.

8 Or is it…….. Open-ended questions?

9 Psychologists and Questioning Strategies “….relying on open-ended interviews, as has been done in Piagetian studies of causality, would have run the risk of seriously under-representing children’s competencies.” Springer and Keil (1991, p. 768) Their preferred questioning strategy with 4 to 7- year-olds is to offer the children choices. Springer, K. and Keil, F. (1991) Early differentiation of causal mechanisms appropriate to biological and non-biological kinds. Child Development, 62,

10 Scientists and Questioning Strategies The SPACE Research of 1987 to 1992 recommended that teachers should ask open and person-centred questions. Subsequently, many authors of books concerning the teaching of science in primary schools have also recommended the use of open and person- centred questions. The ‘Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage’ (2000) advocates the use of open questions.

11 Terminology Closed Questions can be answered with: a single word or short phrase either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ Example: Are all the snails the same size? Open Questions require the child to: think and reflect provide opinions and feelings give longer answers Example: How are the snails different?

12 Person-Centred Questions ask for the child’s opinion: Example: Why do you think your bean grew more quickly than the one in the cupboard? Subject-Centred Questions ask for a specific answer: Example: Why did this bean grow more quickly than the one in the cupboard?

13 Suggestions for Questions Open person-centred questions: What can you see here? Can you find a way to….? Why would you go there? Open subject-centred questions: How can we….? What would happen here if….? What else can we try ? Taken from the ‘Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage’

14 Research Questions 1. What qualitatively different questioning strategies do early years’ practitioners use when interacting with early years’ children in 'science' activities? 2. Are there preferred questioning styles with early years’ children that might be distinguished from later stages? 3. What are the effects of these different strategies on the teaching and learning of science?

15 Research Methods Research Question 1Research Question 2 Method Survey Method Survey Data to be collected Types of questions used in both science and non- science activities Data to be collected Types of questions used with different ages of children in both science and non-science activities Analysis ANOVA Analysis ANOVA

16 Considerations What is science? Reliability Number of teachers Teacher background information Types of school Location of schools Ages of children

17 Selecting the Year Groups Tweenies Foundation PreschoolStage Preoperational Reception Year 1Key Stage 1 Year 2 Year 3 Concrete Year 4Key Stage 2 Operational Year 5 Year 6

18 Research Question 3 Method Multiple case study Data to be collected The discourse itself Observations, reflections, value/judgements Other sources of evidence: Documents, interviews, physical artefacts Yin (1994) & Stake (1995) Analysis Discourse analysis