ICLS pre-conference workshop, June 23, Full day
Boulder, CO
For workshop details, visit https://sites.google.com/site/epistemicthinking/home
Brief Description
Epistemic cognition broadly refers to an array of understandings and practices related to knowledge claims and their justification, as well as the practices and processes for achieving knowledge. Epistemic cognition encompasses both explicit beliefs as well as involved reasoning practices. Recent work by learning scientists as well as others has stressed the important role of epistemic cognition in reasoning skills important for learning, education, and civic responsibility. Revealing and conceptualizing learners’ epistemic thought is especially challenging. Participants in this workshop will discuss varied conceptualizations of epistemic cognition and how to apply these conceptualizations to empirical research. We will explore empirical methods that extend beyond traditional interview and questionnaire methods to better expose authentic, ongoing epistemic thinking. Presentations and discussions will explore means of revealing epistemic thinking in classrooms and other settings and methods of analyzing data from learners’ interactions.
Workshop Goals
The goals of the workshop are (1) to promote dialogue surrounding design research of epistemic cognition’s nature and development, (2) to explore participants’ conceptualizations of the measurement of epistemic cognition–with a strong emphasis on its practical dimensions, (3) to discuss means of analyzing, interpreting, and expanding on existing data, and (4) to provide opportunities to develop collaborative work across disciplinary lines.
Workshop Agenda
The full day workshop will include a fire hose presentation session, whole group discussion, and discussions in smaller “breakout” groups that focus on specific topic strands.
Fire hose presentations will provide the opportunity for participants to present their perspectives with regard to methodology for exposing epistemic thinking. Each presenter will take three minutes to describe his or her current conceptualization of epistemic cognition framed around recent or ongoing methods of assessment and analysis.
Whole group discussions will focus on (1) how to conceptualize epistemic cognition, (2) how to expose and capture epistemic cognition in interactive environments, (3) how to analyze data in terms of epistemic categories, and (4) important but neglected areas of research.
Small group topic strand discussions will begin immediately after the scheduled lunch break. Topics will largely emerge in whole group discussion. As an example, a topic strand might address coding schemes for analyzing revealed student thinking. We aim to recruit interdisciplinary researchers and will encourage topic strands that are representative of these varied perspectives.
Registration & Workshop Participation
To register, visit the ICLS registration site https://cucs.colorado.edu/confreg/icls-2014
Participants are encouraged to submit a 500 word abstract to pre-conference organizers for consideration. Accepted abstracts and examples of measures, tasks, transcripts, and coding schemes will be posted by facilitators online prior to the workshop. Participants will present accepted work during the workshop fire hose session. Emphasis will be placed on research that involves design-based methods of revealing epistemic thinking in the practice of inquiry. Preference will be given to applicants who can bring collected data to the workshop to facilitate discussions of practical methods of data analysis as well as methods for eliciting students’ epistemic cognition.
Key Dates
May 2: Late Registration begins
May 2: Participant abstract submission deadline. Submit to [email protected]
May 30: Notification of abstract acceptance
June 2: Web Registration closes at 11:59 pm
Organizers
Maggie Renken, Georgia State University, [email protected]
Clark Chinn, Rutgers University
Penelope Vargas, Clemson University
William Sandoval, UCLA