A hierarchical typology of multimodal scientific writing in early primary grades
IntroductionScientific literacy in early education depends on both content knowledge and young learners' ability to organize and express scientific ideas across linguistic and visual-graphical modes. This integrative ability, known as multimodal competency, enables children to construct and com...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Communication |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2025.1603737/full |
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| author | Deborah L. Nichols Ted Neal Brian Hand |
| author_facet | Deborah L. Nichols Ted Neal Brian Hand |
| author_sort | Deborah L. Nichols |
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| description | IntroductionScientific literacy in early education depends on both content knowledge and young learners' ability to organize and express scientific ideas across linguistic and visual-graphical modes. This integrative ability, known as multimodal competency, enables children to construct and communicate scientific understanding by coordinating text structure, language, and visual representation.MethodsIn this study, 1,705 science writing samples from 1,008 students in kindergarten through 2nd grade were analyzed using a two-stage quantitative approach. First, a content analysis was conducted in which each sample was systematically coded for text structure, linguistic and visual-graphical modes, and scientific content. These coded features were then subjected to latent class analysis (LCA) to identify distinct typologies of multimodal text production.ResultsLCA identified six typologies of multimodal composition, ranging from simple unlabeled visual texts to strategically integrated complementary compositions. These typologies capture meaningful variation in how students organize and communicate scientific ideas, reflecting differences in metacognitive strategy use, modality coordination, and sensitivity to the communicative functions of linguistic and visual modes.DiscussionFindings indicate that young children's multimodal texts act as both communicative and epistemic tools, supporting scientific meaning-making. Rather than requiring explicit instruction, just-in-time scaffolds may help children make strategic representational choices, reinforcing the role of multimodal composition in early science learning. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-20b19dccf9f049778426e1207e472a19 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2297-900X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Communication |
| spelling | doaj-art-20b19dccf9f049778426e1207e472a192025-08-22T05:26:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Communication2297-900X2025-08-011010.3389/fcomm.2025.16037371603737A hierarchical typology of multimodal scientific writing in early primary gradesDeborah L. Nichols0Ted Neal1Brian Hand2Human Development and Family Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United StatesDepartment of Teaching and Learning, College of Education, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United StatesDepartment of Teaching and Learning, College of Education, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United StatesIntroductionScientific literacy in early education depends on both content knowledge and young learners' ability to organize and express scientific ideas across linguistic and visual-graphical modes. This integrative ability, known as multimodal competency, enables children to construct and communicate scientific understanding by coordinating text structure, language, and visual representation.MethodsIn this study, 1,705 science writing samples from 1,008 students in kindergarten through 2nd grade were analyzed using a two-stage quantitative approach. First, a content analysis was conducted in which each sample was systematically coded for text structure, linguistic and visual-graphical modes, and scientific content. These coded features were then subjected to latent class analysis (LCA) to identify distinct typologies of multimodal text production.ResultsLCA identified six typologies of multimodal composition, ranging from simple unlabeled visual texts to strategically integrated complementary compositions. These typologies capture meaningful variation in how students organize and communicate scientific ideas, reflecting differences in metacognitive strategy use, modality coordination, and sensitivity to the communicative functions of linguistic and visual modes.DiscussionFindings indicate that young children's multimodal texts act as both communicative and epistemic tools, supporting scientific meaning-making. Rather than requiring explicit instruction, just-in-time scaffolds may help children make strategic representational choices, reinforcing the role of multimodal composition in early science learning.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2025.1603737/fullmultimodal writingprimary science educationyoung learnersscientific text productionlinguistic and visual-graphical modesepistemic tools |
| spellingShingle | Deborah L. Nichols Ted Neal Brian Hand A hierarchical typology of multimodal scientific writing in early primary grades Frontiers in Communication multimodal writing primary science education young learners scientific text production linguistic and visual-graphical modes epistemic tools |
| title | A hierarchical typology of multimodal scientific writing in early primary grades |
| title_full | A hierarchical typology of multimodal scientific writing in early primary grades |
| title_fullStr | A hierarchical typology of multimodal scientific writing in early primary grades |
| title_full_unstemmed | A hierarchical typology of multimodal scientific writing in early primary grades |
| title_short | A hierarchical typology of multimodal scientific writing in early primary grades |
| title_sort | hierarchical typology of multimodal scientific writing in early primary grades |
| topic | multimodal writing primary science education young learners scientific text production linguistic and visual-graphical modes epistemic tools |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2025.1603737/full |
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