Talk in primary science: a method to promote productive and contextualised group discourse

Abstract

Modelled Discussions About Science (MoDAS), where adults talk together about scientific ideas, procedures and applications, were devised to model and improve the quality of pupils' discussions. Two examples from one of the project schools are examined to see if these aims were fulfilled and to comment on examples of cognitive and social aspects of discourse and argumentation. Successful features of adult modelled talk included the use of clearly signed ‘big-D’ discourse for example, how adults take turns, signal agreements and disagreements and challenge each other. Analysis of cognitive aspects of pupils' talk showed sophisticated levels of argumentation. Social functions of dialogue were observed particularly with older pupils. The method is also a way of linking industry and school science so that science learning is more authentic.