Threshold concepts in the teaching of natural sciences: A systematic review

A systematic review of Threshold Concepts provides a thorough and structured analysis of the existing literature related to these essential and transforming concepts in education. Threshold Concepts represent ideas or knowledge that, once understood, allow the student to access deeper levels of unde...

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Main Authors: Jaime Solís Pinilla, Cristian Merino Rubilar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: OmniaScience 2024-07-01
Series:Journal of Technology and Science Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.jotse.org/index.php/jotse/article/view/2385
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author Jaime Solís Pinilla
Cristian Merino Rubilar
author_facet Jaime Solís Pinilla
Cristian Merino Rubilar
author_sort Jaime Solís Pinilla
collection DOAJ
description A systematic review of Threshold Concepts provides a thorough and structured analysis of the existing literature related to these essential and transforming concepts in education. Threshold Concepts represent ideas or knowledge that, once understood, allow the student to access deeper levels of understanding of a discipline. These concepts are crucial, since they act as “doors” that, once “crossed”, lead to a more integrated and coherent vision of a study area. In the review, various academic databases were consulted to identify relevant studies, applying rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria. Through this process, key patterns, methodologies, and findings were detected, related to the teaching, understanding and application of these concepts. Despite the broad methodological diversity that exists in the field, as well as educational approaches and contexts, Threshold Concepts are not always addressed successfully at the curricular level or in the implementation of teaching methodologies. The limitations of this review have an impact on possible publishing bias and the diversity of research methods. However, the review stresses the need for greater integration of these concepts in education, as well as future research that explores efficient pedagogical strategies to teach them.
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spelling doaj-art-a22eb638536f42bc92e8646f7412645e2025-08-20T01:54:31ZengOmniaScienceJournal of Technology and Science Education2013-63742024-07-0114494796410.3926/jotse.2385446Threshold concepts in the teaching of natural sciences: A systematic reviewJaime Solís Pinilla0Cristian Merino Rubilar1Doctorado en Educación, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de ChileInstituto de Química, PUCV Centro de Investigación en Didáctica de las Ciencias y Educación STEM, PUCVA systematic review of Threshold Concepts provides a thorough and structured analysis of the existing literature related to these essential and transforming concepts in education. Threshold Concepts represent ideas or knowledge that, once understood, allow the student to access deeper levels of understanding of a discipline. These concepts are crucial, since they act as “doors” that, once “crossed”, lead to a more integrated and coherent vision of a study area. In the review, various academic databases were consulted to identify relevant studies, applying rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria. Through this process, key patterns, methodologies, and findings were detected, related to the teaching, understanding and application of these concepts. Despite the broad methodological diversity that exists in the field, as well as educational approaches and contexts, Threshold Concepts are not always addressed successfully at the curricular level or in the implementation of teaching methodologies. The limitations of this review have an impact on possible publishing bias and the diversity of research methods. However, the review stresses the need for greater integration of these concepts in education, as well as future research that explores efficient pedagogical strategies to teach them.https://www.jotse.org/index.php/jotse/article/view/2385threshold concepts, systemic review, natural sciences
spellingShingle Jaime Solís Pinilla
Cristian Merino Rubilar
Threshold concepts in the teaching of natural sciences: A systematic review
Journal of Technology and Science Education
threshold concepts, systemic review, natural sciences
title Threshold concepts in the teaching of natural sciences: A systematic review
title_full Threshold concepts in the teaching of natural sciences: A systematic review
title_fullStr Threshold concepts in the teaching of natural sciences: A systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Threshold concepts in the teaching of natural sciences: A systematic review
title_short Threshold concepts in the teaching of natural sciences: A systematic review
title_sort threshold concepts in the teaching of natural sciences a systematic review
topic threshold concepts, systemic review, natural sciences
url https://www.jotse.org/index.php/jotse/article/view/2385
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