Video worked examples to promote elementary students’ science process skills: a fruit decomposition inquiry activity

Abstract

The study aim was to investigate the effects of a training inquiry task supported by video worked examples on elementary students’ science process skills. In this case study, 30 participants used these videos as a support during the performance of an inquiry activity based on fruit decomposition. To date, these supports have only been studied at higher educative levels and they have not been used to address biological phenomena topics. The results indicate that the video worked examples provide students with a cognitive scheme for the inquiry process and have a positive effect on their science process skills. In particular, after the training inquiry task, participants contextualise researchable questions and contemplate study variables that allow them to design proper experimental designs. Video worked examples also promote students’ data representation, which leads them to make more advanced scientific explanations.