Core Knowledge – Supporting Upper Secondary Pupils’ Writing through Instructional Design
The purpose of the project is to develop a teaching design that improves pupils’ ability to write correctly, concisely and with precision.
Who are we?
The following teachers participate in the project: Adam Danvind-Malm (Biology and Chemistry), Elin Eriksson (Biology and Chemistry), Tim Karlsson (Swedish and English), Kristoffer Nordekvist (Chemistry and Natural Science), Sven Pettersson (Social Studies, History and Geography), Erika Sundelin (Biology and Chemistry), and Annica Sundqvist (History and Religious Studies). Denise Bergström and Agnes Strandberg, both Associate Senior Lecturers at Luleå University of Technology, also participate in the project.
The ULF Project Area
Participating teachers work within the Natural Science Programme at Luleå Upper Secondary School and, regardless of subject, have for several years experienced clear shortcomings in pupils’ writing accuracy and their ability to express themselves correctly, concisely and precisely. This primarily concerns extended written examination responses (essay-type answers) across all subjects, where pupils are expected to respond with a short analytical text. Teachers find that pupils struggle to formulate responses that adequately demonstrate their actual knowledge. Pupils therefore require scaffolding in writing purposeful examination answers. The project aims to develop new teaching approaches that provide such support.
Purpose of the Project
The purpose of the project is to develop a teaching design that improves pupils’ ability to write correctly, concisely and with precision.
Implementation and Documentation
To achieve this aim, project participants will design, on a scientific basis and drawing on established professional experience, an instructional model in which pupils explicitly practise writing analytical examination responses. The following data will be used:
- Pre- and post-tests (in the form of examination responses) of pupils’ writing
- Pupil texts collected during the project
- A pupil questionnaire on self-perceived writing confidence
- A focus group on teachers’ perceptions of pupils’ writing confidence and development
Dissemination of Results
The project group intends to present its findings at team meetings within the Natural Science Programme in Luleå, as well as to a wider staff body at Luleå Upper Secondary School. The project will also be presented at UDiN – Educational Dialogue in the North – in order to disseminate the results more widely. Finally, the group aims to produce some form of academic publication.
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