Melbourne Early Career Researcher Grants

Project Title: Investigating Thought Experiments in the Science Classroom

Chief Investigator: Dr Maurizio Toscano

Funded by: 2007 Early Career Researcher Grant Scheme

Project Summary: Employing the imagination to run experiments in our heads is as old as science. Yet, despite the ubiquity of thought experiments in science, and the many claims about their value to science education, no significant investigation into the nature, extent and effectiveness of thought experimentation in the classroom has been done. This project will undertake the field work needed to fill this gap in our understanding about the importance of imagination, analogic reasoning, metaphor and modeling in learning science. The project will begin a program to re-define what counts as science in the classroom and produce new learning tools for science students and teachers.