Project Title: Epistemological Narrative Framework - A Narrative Based Approach for Designing Secondary School Science Content

Supervisor: Prof Ravi Poovaiah

In recent years, use of stories in general science education at secondary level has gained impetus. Arthur Stinner, Yannis Hadzigeorgiou and Isabelle have shown how historical information can be used to create narratives as a supplement for science learning. The philosophical foundation supporting the use of historical information for science education was first proposed by Thomas Kuhn in his book “The structure of scientific revolutions”. Kuhn’s argument was that a science textbook only publishes the final outcome or conclusion of a discovery, however, the essence of scientific tradition exists in the series of events that lead to the formulation of a theory. The series of events go beyond the work of an individual scientist. Scientific tradition exists in the process by which a concept evolves over time.

We believe that the process of development of scientific concepts that lead to advancement of science is of a structured nature, a structure that resembles with that of a Narrative. Understanding the epistemological relationship between narrative structures and knowledge acquisition/creation event can help in developing Narratives that capture the essence of science which exists in the process that lead to a discovery or invention. Based upon the understanding of this relationship and integrating certain aspects of Theory of Knowledge, Theory of Narrative and Theory of Learning, we develop the Epistemological Narrative Framework to assist in the design of Narratives for secondary school science textbooks. A series of textbook chapters were designed using the Epistemological Narrative Framework, used as part of control group experiments with secondary school students. The results show significant difference in the recall of students who were delivered lesson in the story form versus those who were taught with their current textbook approach. The final implication of this research is the possibility of restructuring the secondary school science content centered on the Epistemological Narrative Framework.


Journal Publication
Designing epistemologically correct science narratives. Tamil Nadu, i-manager's journal of school education technology, Vol. 7, No. 4, March – May.
Author - Sachin Datt and Ravi Poovaiah (2012)

Conference Proceedings
Effect of historical narrative based approach in designing secondary school science content on students' memory recall performance in a central school in Mumba. Chennai, ICORD 2013.
Datt, S. and Poovaiah, R. (2009). Methodology for designing stories for secondary school science education. IDC IIT Bombay. Designing for children International conference.
Author - Sachin Datt and Ravi Poovaiah (2013)

International Conference Oral presentation
Framework for organizing knowledge as a narrative: A case for secondary school science learning. Finland, Teaching narrative and teaching through narrative International conference.
Datt, S and Rao. A.G. (2008).Story of bamboo crafts guru Medar Ketya. Shantiniketan, Indian Folklore Congress.
Author - Sachin Datt and Ravi Poovaiah (2011)

Research magazine publication
Fractal like model for designing educational stories. IDC IIT Bombay, Design Thoughts.
Author - Sachin Datt and Ravi Poovaiah (2009)

Contact details:
Industrial Design Centre,
IIT Bombay ,
Powai, Mumbai 400076

Telephone:
091-022-25767812

E-mail:sachindatt10[at]iitb.ac.in
            sachindatt9[at]gmail.com