Teaching Concepts through Interdisciplinary Modeling Problem: Energy Conservation Problem

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to see how students develop models and how they learn some particular scientific concepts with interdisciplinary modeling problem. For this purpose, researchers have developed “Energy Conservation Problem” which is an interdisciplinary modelling problem in collaboration with Science teacher. The problem was applied to 7th grade students in groups of 3-4 in an Eastern city of Turkey. In the process of interdisciplinary problem solving, students learned some terms about Science
discipline and after interrelating these concepts, discussed which factors to include in their prospective models and how to quantify them. The models of the students were different from each other because of students’ first exposure to such a process, different way of thoughts in the groups and inherent complexity of the modelling problems.