Modelling and inquiring sound attenuation: design-based research about an ICT enhanced Unit on materials science

Abstract

In this paper we present preliminary results of a design-based research about a teaching/learning unit on Sound Attenuation, which is part of a international research-based curriculum project on Materials Science. The common theoretical basis for curriculum design in 5 countries was focused on an inquiry-based and modelling approach and the use of ICTs to support it. In our project, a partnership of secondary school teachers and researchers has been established as a “learning community”. During the curriculum design process this partnership has developed a conceptual clarification of sound attenuation in materials, a conceptual sequence and both teaching/learning and assessment tasks that reflect their views on inquiry, modelling and ICTs. Researchers have proposed theoretical issues for the pedagogical approach and supported and documented (through participatory observation) aspects of the implementation in real classroom settings. Different assessment activities have been used to analyse students’ outcomes and some preliminary results regarding a model of sound attenuation in terms of energy are presented here. The idea of this analysis is to provide feedback for an iterative design-implementation-evaluation approach to curriculum development within a design-based research framework.