Variations in Teachers’ Practical Conceptions of Epistemic Agency

Susan Kelly, Nitasha Mathayas, Nessrine Machaka, Jacqueline Chis, Christina Krist

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

While the goal of supporting students' epistemic agency has gained attention in the literature, little empirical research has examined the complex work of teaching involved in doing so. This study examines four teachers' practical conceptions of epistemic agency: the images of practice they associate with what “students participating with epistemic agency” looks like. To do this, we interviewed teachers before and after they enacted science units that they had designed with the goal of supporting students' epistemic agency. We present four key constructs involved in teachers' practical conceptions (coherence, flexibility, relevance, and student participation) and show how each teacher uniquely described these constructs in their teaching. This study is a starting point for characterizing the multidimensional work involved in supporting students as epistemic agents, including ongoing tensions that were raised. We discuss the implications of this work for supporting teacher learning.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication14th International Conference of the Learning Sciences
Subtitle of host publicationThe Interdisciplinarity of the Learning Sciences, ICLS 2020 - Conference Proceedings
EditorsMelissa Gresalfi, Ilana Seidel Horn
PublisherInternational Society of the Learning Sciences (ISLS)
Pages2030-2037
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781732467286
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2020
Event14th International Conference of the Learning Sciences: The Interdisciplinarity of the Learning Sciences, ICLS 2020 - Nashville, United States
Duration: Jun 19 2020Jun 23 2020

Publication series

NameComputer-Supported Collaborative Learning Conference, CSCL
Volume4
ISSN (Print)1573-4552

Conference

Conference14th International Conference of the Learning Sciences: The Interdisciplinarity of the Learning Sciences, ICLS 2020
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNashville
Period6/19/206/23/20

Keywords

  • Curriculum enactment
  • Epistemic agency
  • Science education
  • Teacher learning

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Education

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