Developing a Sense of Scale: Looking Backward
Presentation
Overview
Overview
Description
Although scale has been identified as one of four major interdisciplinary themes that cut across the science domains (American Association
for the Advancement of Science, 1989), we are only beginning to understand how expertise in learning and applying scale develops.
This study sought to understand how expertise in scale develops from childhood to adulthood by asking 50 professionals to reflect on
their experiences (in and out-of-school) learning about scale. Semi-structured interviews were utilized to obtain information about educational
experiences, out-of-school (informal) experiences, and applications of scale in different professions. Results showed that most
of the participants used mental anchor points as conceptual benchmarks when applying scale in their job. Seventy-six percent of the
participants attributed physical experiences such as moving through the environment by car, walking, bicycling, boating, or flying in an
airplane as contributing to the development of a sense of scale. Results of this study were used to develop a trajectory of scale concepts
that develop as individuals move from novice through increasing degrees of expertise. Across professions, participants emphasized the
critical role that scale plays in their work. For many, scale was viewed as central to accomplishing the work-related tasks.
