Lessons Learned in Summer Camp: A Case Study of the Learning Paths of Three Campers

Abstract

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Science camps provide opportunities to expose students to topics not typically covered in the classroom, such as marine science. This multi-case study examines learning paths for three campers enrolled in Ocean Explorers, a marine science camp for elementary age children. Interviews, knowledge inventories, and science notebook analyses were triangulated and resulted in narrative learning path descriptions. We found: 1) each camper followed a unique learning trajectory throughout camp; 2) campers’ learning was socially constructed; and 3) the campers each preferred concrete representations of phenomena over abstraction. These findings suggest Ocean Explorers is an effective mechanism for not only increasing elementary students’ interest in science, but identifying more effective pathways for increasing their content knowledge in marine science.