HomeThe Asia-Pacific Education Researchervol. 19 no. 1 (2010)

Teacher-Education Students' Epistemological Belief Change through Collaborative Knowledge Building

Shu-ping Lin | Huang-yao Hong

Discipline: Education, Philosophy

 

Abstract:

Previous research indicates that epistemological beliefs are related to learning in various ways and have implications for teaching. This study further investigates whether it is possible to change teacher-education students' epistemological beliefs by engaging them in a constructivist way of collaborative knowledge building and learning in an online environment called Knowledge Forum. Findings indicate that Knowledge Forum as a knowledge-building environment is helpful in (1) engaging students in their online knowledge work; (2) making them more collaborative and reflective in the community; and (3) shifting their epistemological and pedagogical beliefs to become more constructivist-oriented.