Your students don

1
Group Assessment of Logical Thinking (Roadrangka
et al., 1982)
12 question instrument that tests six logical
operations Conservation Proportional
Reasoning Controlling Variables Combinatorial
Reasoning Probabilistic Reasoning Correlation
Reasoning
See McConnell et al., 2005, Jour. Geoscience Ed.
for detailed report on how we used this
instrument and results
2
Why are these skills so important to success in
science classes?

• The skills all deal with predictions based on
  available information
• Involve sequential thought
• Closely related to critical thinking
• Learned skills

3
GALT Scoring Categories
(Wide spectrum in student logical thinking skills)
ES Students

• Concrete (0-4)
• Prefer fact-based or cookbook approach (what,
  how, when), rely on memorization
• Transitional (5-7)
• Prefer to apply ideas in a practical way
• What does this have to do with me?
• Formal (8-12)
• Abstract thinkers, capable of studying
  relationships and previously unseen ideas

24
32
44
n743
4
Impact of Attendance
5
Link to Student Success
Correlation between ability to reason logically
and student success.
6
Methods

• Deconstructed concrete GALT scores
• Pre- and Post-test
• Used supplied instrument scoring rubric
• Combined operations for analyses
• Compared A/B to D/F students
• T-test analyses (5 cutoff)
• AB Pre AB Post
• DF Pre DF Post
• AB Pre DF Pre
• AB Pre DF Post
• AB Post DF Post

7
Results
Item Operation AB Pre AB Post DF Pre DF Post AB Pre DF Pre AB Pre DF Post AB Post DF Post Difficulty Factor
1, 4 Conservation N Y Y N N 0.78, 0.46
8, 9 Proportional Reasoning Y Y N N N 0.15, 0.26
11, 13 Controlling Variables Y N N N N 0.27, 0.24
15, 16 Probabilistic Reasoning Y Y Y N Y 0.19, 0.21
17, 18 Correlation Reasoning Y N N Y N 0.16, 0.05
19, 20 Combinatorial Reasoning Y N N Y N 0.65, 0.2
n 53 n 56
Positive Correlation
No Correlation
Negative Correlation
8
When are conservation skills less important
(maybe)

• Earth System
• Scientific Method Science and Society
• Atmosphere and Weather
• Plate Tectonics
• Volcanoes and Mountains
• Rock Cycle
• Hydrologic Cycle
• Geologic Time
• Surface Processes
• Climate Global Change

9
and, when are probability skills less important
(maybe)?

• Earth System
• Scientific Method Science and Society
• Atmosphere and Weather
• Plate Tectonics
• Volcanoes and Mountains
• Rock Cycle
• Hydrologic Cycle
• Geologic Time
• Surface Processes
• Climate Global Change

10
How can we help students improve their logical
thinking skills?

• Engage the student with an activity that requires
  application of the skills.
• Scaffold the activities.
• Provide immediate feedback.
• Follow up with summative evaluation.

11
Conclusions

• Wide spectrum in student logical thinking skills.
• Correlation between ability to reason logically
  and student success.
• Conservation and probability skills essential
• Many Earth Science concepts require advanced
  logical thinking skills.
• Must scaffold student learning to maximize
  success.