Dokument_1.pdf (4369 KB) - OPUS Bayreuth - Universität Bayreuth

Summary 1
1 Summary
Bird flight is a complex subject and a difficult issue to teach in a school classroom. Open
learning environments might overcome these difficulties. This study investigated different
approaches of open learning environments with regard to the most effective learning
environment to teach this subject to 6 th graders of highest stratification level ("Gymnasium").
In this sense, "effective" includes the cognitive learning outcome and the motivation of the
students.
Open learning environments comprise three dimensions: a thematic dimension, a
methodological dimension and the institutional domain. In this study, the thematic level is
given by the appropriate subject. Regarding the methodological level, two different
instructional approaches were applied: a student-oriented versus a teacher-centred approach.
Concerning the institutional domain, a student-oriented approach was implemented in two
different locations: in a natural museum and in classrooms. The student-oriented approach
followed a learning at workstations. Due to a lack of adequate hands-on experiments to
investigate aerodynamic features of different formed bodies, a specific hands-on model was
developed and included as one of the workstations.
A considerable learning effect and a highly affective impact on the participating
students was observed when experimenting with the hands-on model. Thus, the model is
perceived to be of potential value for an implementation in school. The empirical evaluation
of the different approaches showed following results: comparing the student-oriented and the
teacher-centred approach, the latter outperformed the student-oriented approach in the
learning outcome. However, when working on the learning stations the students indicated
higher motivation scores. Considering the institutional openness of the learning environment,
a comparison of the museum and the classroom environments resulted in a higher learning
success of the museum group, but with equal motivational statements of the students.
Although the teacher-centred group showed a higher learning effect than the studentoriented
approach, both instructional approaches increased significantly the cognitive
knowledge. Because of the overall higher motivation, the student-oriented approach
consisting of learning at workstations was considered to be the most effective learning
environment to teach the difficult subject of bird flight and lift. In addition, an excursion in an
out-of-school setting might enrich the curriculum based subject.