Robinson, Gordon, and Lewthwaite, Brian (2007) Understanding the dynamics of risk and protective factors in promoting success in science and mathematics education. Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 7 (4). pp. 283-285.

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Abstract

This volume of the Canadian Journal of Mathematics, Science, and Technology is devoted to some of the research and development activity associated with the University of Manitoba's Centre for Research in Youth, Science Teaching and Learning (CRYSTAL). Under the direction of Professor Gordon Robinson, a research biologist and advocate for school science and mathematics improvement, CRYSTAL involves researchers from the Universities of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Regina, and Saskatchewan, the College Universitaire de Saint-Boniface, Brandon University, and Lakehead University. It is quite apparent that teaching and learning within the K-12 environment are emergent properties of complex interacting systems (e.g., Senge et al., 2000) and success is a function of the intrinsic resilience within each system. Rather than try to tease apart these systems, each of which has an effect on the successful teaching and learning of science, CRYSTAL has opted to adopt the simplification found in the late Urie Bronfenbrenner's (1979, 1992) ecological systems theory, in which he reduced the complexity of systems into the four nested layers of the 'micro system,' the 'meso-system,' the 'exosystem,' and the 'macrosystem.' It is entirely possible, albeit somewhat abstract, to define our research theme as research to increase the resilience that resides within these four nested 'systems' and thereby increase the success of the teaching and learning of science, but for purposes of clarity we should more clearly define what we mean by 'resilience' (sometimes referred to as 'resiliency')and the boundaries of these somewhat ill-defined 'systems.'

Item ID:	35404
Item Type:	Article (Editorial)
ISSN:	1942-4051
Date Deposited:	24 Sep 2014 04:32
FoR Codes:	13 EDUCATION > 1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy > 130212 Science, Technology and Engineering Curriculum and Pedagogy @ 100%
SEO Codes:	93 EDUCATION AND TRAINING > 9302 Teaching and Instruction > 930201 Pedagogy @ 100%
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