written by Eleanor W. Close, Hunter G. Close, Sarah B. McKagan, and Rachel E. Scherr

In a course organized around the development of diverse representations, no single mode of expression offers a complete picture of participants' understanding of the nature of energy. Instead, we argue, their understanding is actively constructed through the simultaneous use of a range of quite different kinds of representational resources (Goodwin, 2000; Hutchins, 1995; Ochs, Gonzales, & Jacoby, 1996), including not only words and prosody but also gestures, symbolic objects, participants moving their bodies in concert, and whatever other communicative modes the course invites them to use. Examples are provided from a teacher professional development course on energy.

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Published August 24, 2010
Last Modified October 11, 2010

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