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Abstract Title: Identity, Topical Interest, and Classroom Dynamics as Sources of Transformative Experiences
Abstract: Students rarely develop school-prompted interests in science in ways that lead to out-of-school engagement. Existing research has highlighted that positive science identities foster this out-of-school engagement. We have been investigating a form of out-of-school engagement called transformative experiences–a construct that characterizes moments where students engage in free-choice transfer of science concepts to everyday settings in ways they find meaningful. Based on interviews conducted with undergraduate students who had indicated deep out-of-school engagement based on a transformative experience survey, we compare and contrast three cases that illustrate a broader spectrum of factors that may contribute to students' engagement outside of class. While our analysis corroborates previous findings concerning the role that science identity can play, our analysis sheds new light on ways in which topical interest and classroom dynamics can also foster transformative experiences.



Footnote: This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Nos. 1140785 and 110784.
Abstract Type: Contributed Poster Presentation

Author/Organizer Information

Primary Contact: Kendra Hayes
Middle Tennessee State University
1301 East Main Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Phone: 615-915-8238
Co-Author(s)
and Co-Presenter(s)
Brian Frank
Middle Tennessee State University