The effects of computerized inquiry‐stage‐dependent argumentation assistance on elementary students' science process and argument construction skills

This study proposed a computerized inquiry‐stage‐dependent argumentation assistance and investigated whether this can help improve elementary students' performance in science processes and the construction of quality arguments. Various argumentation assistances were developed and incorporated into each stage of scientific inquiry in a computer‐supported scientific inquiry system. A nonequivalent quasi‐experimental design was adopted to evaluate the effectiveness of this approach. Two intact sixth grade classes (N = 55) participated in this study, and each student used a tablet computer to accomplish the designated inquiry activities. One class of students was arranged to use the stage‐dependent argumentation assistance, and the other used a generic text‐based interface. The findings indicate that students who used the stage‐dependent argumentation assistance could acquire significantly better science process and argument construction skills than those using the generic text‐based interface. Lay Description What is already known about this topic: Developing argument construction skills is crucial for learning and conducting scientific inquiry. The required argument patterns and discourse processes should vary with each stage of scientific inquiry. Teachers need to provide students with assistance to help them construct quality arguments. What this paper adds: This study developed a computerized argumentation assistance that complies with the features of each inquiry stage. Various forms of augmentation assistance and scripted rules of reciprocal interaction were developed and incorporated into a scientific inquiry system. This research focus on the effects of argumentation assistance on students' science process and argument construction skills. Implications of study findings for practitioners: Students can effectively practice the science process skills in argumentative scientific inquiry. The argumentation assistance can increase the students' argumentative knowledge and engage them in intensive scientific argumentation. This system can help teachers to implement scientific inquiry in the classroom and guide students to carry out scientific inquiry.