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Exploring Practical, Disciplinary, and Engineering Reasoning in a High School Technology Classroom

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Title: Exploring Practical, Disciplinary, and Engineering Reasoning in a High School Technology Classroom
Language: English
Authors: Mathew Thomas (ORCID 0009-0005-4483-1441)
Source: International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology. 2026 14(2):639-655.
Availability: International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology. Necmettin Erbakan University, Ahmet Kelesoglu Education Faculty, Meram, Konya, 42090, Turkey. e-mail: ijermst@gmail.com; Web site: https://www.ijemst.net/index.php/ijemst/index
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Descriptors: Secondary School Students, Technology Education, Thinking Skills, Abstract Reasoning, Student Projects, Design, Engineering, Concept Formation, Learning Processes, Interdisciplinary Approach, Mathematics
ISSN: 2147-611X
Abstract: This paper presents how students in a secondary school technology classroom navigated different forms of reasoning during the early stages of a design project to build gravity-powered street luges. The data collection methods included classroom observations, examining student artefacts, teacher interviews, and focus group discussions with students, the analysis identified three modes of reasoning, practical (trial-and-error), disciplinary (use of science and mathematics), and engineering (conceptual design integration). Findings show that students predominantly relied on practical reasoning early on in the project, with disciplinary concepts often referenced at a surface level. Engineering reasoning emerged later especially when triggered by testing failures or design constraints. This paper contributes to understanding how conceptual learning can be fostered through design-based activity and offers implications for strengthening interdisciplinary thinking in technology education.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1506044
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: Exploring Practical, Disciplinary, and Engineering Reasoning in a High School Technology Classroom
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mathew+Thomas%22">Mathew Thomas</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4483-1441">0009-0005-4483-1441</externalLink>)
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  Data: International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology. Necmettin Erbakan University, Ahmet Kelesoglu Education Faculty, Meram, Konya, 42090, Turkey. e-mail: ijermst@gmail.com; Web site: https://www.ijemst.net/index.php/ijemst/index
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  Data: This paper presents how students in a secondary school technology classroom navigated different forms of reasoning during the early stages of a design project to build gravity-powered street luges. The data collection methods included classroom observations, examining student artefacts, teacher interviews, and focus group discussions with students, the analysis identified three modes of reasoning, practical (trial-and-error), disciplinary (use of science and mathematics), and engineering (conceptual design integration). Findings show that students predominantly relied on practical reasoning early on in the project, with disciplinary concepts often referenced at a surface level. Engineering reasoning emerged later especially when triggered by testing failures or design constraints. This paper contributes to understanding how conceptual learning can be fostered through design-based activity and offers implications for strengthening interdisciplinary thinking in technology education.
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      – Text: English
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        StartPage: 639
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      – SubjectFull: Secondary School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Technology Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thinking Skills
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      – SubjectFull: Abstract Reasoning
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      – SubjectFull: Student Projects
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      – SubjectFull: Design
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      – SubjectFull: Concept Formation
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      – SubjectFull: Learning Processes
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      – SubjectFull: Interdisciplinary Approach
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      – SubjectFull: Mathematics
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Exploring Practical, Disciplinary, and Engineering Reasoning in a High School Technology Classroom
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