6533b831fe1ef96bd1299a94

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Online Learning Environments, Scientific Argumentation, and 21st Century Skills

Douglas B. ClarkKarsten StegmannArmin WeinbergerJeroen JanssenLeena LaurinenGijsbert ErkensMiika MarttunenVictor SampsonMuhsin MenekseIngo Kollar

subject

21st century skillsOnline participationOnline learningPedagogyComputingMilieux_COMPUTERSANDEDUCATIONEducational technologyPsychologyExperiential learningArgumentation theorySynchronous learning

description

A workshop held at the National Academies in the United States in 2007 highlighted five broad categories of skills that appear valuable across a range of jobs for people working in modern global economies. Engaging students in scientific argumentation can support the development of these 21st century skills. Unfortunately, opportunities are rare in typical classrooms for students to learn how to engage in scientific argumentation. Over the past ten years several online environments have been developed to support students engaging with one another in scientific argumentation. This paper considers how engaging students in scientific argumentation through the activity structures and scripts in these online environments could also support the development of 21st century skills. More specifically, the paper considers how WISE Seeded Discussions, CASSIS, VCRI, and DREW can support students’ development of Adaptability, Complex Communication Skills, Non-Routine Problem-Solving Skills, Self-Management/Self-Development, and Systems Thinking.

https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-61520-729-9.ch001