PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ORAL LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS ANALYSIS

This study investigates the correlation between pair’s collaborative learning and students’ outcomes during task problems solving physic phenomenon with computer. In this study 12 students (aged 11-12 years) used an appropriate computer simulation program and they discuss the phenomenon. The aforementioned actions were recorded. The students carried out predict-observe-explain tasks and confronted their ideas about the bodies’ free fall phenomenon. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of students’ discourse (conversations), as well as their written answers in a pre- and a post-test questionnaires showed that some cognitive oriented language functions can be related to science understanding and knowledge construction. In other words, the results showed that the oral language functions were highly task related and more cognitively oriented. Moreover, it was found that the language functions were strongly related with their written outcomes. Such results suggest that pairs engaged in shared learning activities during collaboration can be lead in better understanding of science concepts.