Teaching and learning in science disciplines are dependent on multimodal communication. Earlier research implies that students may be challenged when trying to interpret and use different semiotic resources. There have been calls for extensive frameworks that enable analysis of multimodal texts in science education. In this study, we combine analytical tools deriving from social semiotics, including systemic functional linguistics (SFL), where the ideational, interpersonal, and textual metafunctions are central. In regard to other modes than writing—and to analyse how textual resources are combined—we build on aspects highlighted in research on multimodality. The aim of this study is to uncover how such a framework can provide researchers and teachers with insights into the ways in which various aspects of the content in multimodal texts are communicated through different semiotic resources. Furthermore, we aim to explore how different text resources interact and, finally, how the students, or authors of teaching resources, position themselves in relation to the subject. Data consist of one student text and one teaching resource text, both comprising drawn and written elements in combination with symbols. Our analyses of the student text suggest that the proposed framework can provide insights into students’ content knowledge and, hence, how construction of multimodal texts may be a useful tool for formative assessment. When it comes to teaching resources, the framework may be a useful tool for teachers when choosing resources, particularly in relation to students’ possibilities of meaning making when engaging with such texts, but also, as a basis for classroom discussions.

Teaching and learning in ecology depend on multimodality, involving semiotic resourcessuch as visual representations, subject-specific symbols, and written and spoken language. Furthermore, the ecology field involves complex processes and relationships, presenting student challenges.However, more research has yet to investigate how students design multimodal texts to representcomplex biological processes. For a holistic understanding of ecology, it is crucial to understanddifferent complex processes, such as the matter cycle, energy flow, decomposition, and their relations.Therefore, this study aims to, through multimodal text analysis based on systemic functional linguistics (SFL), identify how secondary students collectively present and combine such processes and howthey position themselves through their textual choices. Results indicate that representing biologicalprocesses comprises several challenges for students. One way in which this is shown is the unclearuse and meaning of arrows. Thereto, the students include various aspects uncommon in the fieldof ecology, for example, symbols inspired by comic books, values, and the role of humans, therebyrelating ecosystems to their interests and everyday life. Implications for teaching are discussed, forinstance, the importance of supporting students in terms of scientific content and how to represent it,which can be conducted through text discussions. 

Många elever har svårigheter i att skapa mening kring naturvetenskapliga koncept. Tidigare studier inom biologiämnet visar att elever har svårt för att beskriva och tolka hur näringsvävar och andra komplexa begrepp hänger samman. Undervisning och lärande inom naturvetenskapliga områden är beroende av en stor mängd representationer som illustrerar fenomen som är för små, stora, abstrakta eller komplexa för att kunna beskrivas enbart med ord. En förutsättning för att elever ska kunna skapa mening kring naturvetenskapliga begrepp är dels att de kan tolka de representationer som används i undervisningen, dels att de aktivt använder representationer. De möjligheter och utmaningar som elever upplever i sitt meningsskapande i samband med ett eget konstruerande av representationer har rönt alltmer intresse; dock saknas studier som specifikt rör ekologiundervisningen. Syftet med denna studie är att identifiera elevers olika syn på komplexa ekologiska koncept och illustrera på vilket sätt eleverna försöker kombinera dessa för en större helhetsförståelse. Insamlad data består av bilder som elever skapat under ett grupparbete och dessa tolkas ur ett socialsemiotiskt perspektiv. Resultaten indikerar att eleverna fokuserar på representationernas ytliga egenskaper, snarare än den underliggande strukturen, samt att strukturen och vetenskapligheten i elevers visuella beskrivningar av ekologiska koncept skiljer sig åt. Eleverna uppvisar svårigheter när de försöker kombinera faktorer kopplade till olika kretslopp. Vidare visar resultaten att eleverna behöver stöd i att skapa en helhetsbild av ekologiska processer och att analys av elevers representationer kan användas för att identifiera elevers svårigheter. Detta kan möjliggöra ett djupare och mer vetenskapligt resonerande i det naturvetenskapliga klassrummet.

Teaching and learning in biology and other science disciplines are highly dependent on representations illustrating phenomena too small, big, abstract or complex to be described by words only. Many students have difficulties learning scientific concepts and lack an idea of “the bigger picture”. Earlier research in biology implicate that students have difficulties describing and interpreting food webs and other concepts concerning ecological systems. One area that is attaining a greater interest is the learning possibilities when students’ actively construct representations. Very little attention has, however, been paid to this line of research in the area of ecology. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to identify students' different views on complex ecological concepts and illustrate the manners by which students attempt to link them together for a more holistic understanding. Data consists of students’ drawings and interviews, that together can give a better understanding of how students take advantage of actively constructing representations. Results indicate that students’ interpretations and ideas regarding ecological concepts differ widely. They describe biological concepts with different levels of abstraction and show difficulties combining abiotic and biotic factors in biological cycles. The results give further insights into how explicit focus on ecological process and concepts can be used to scaffold students’ construction of representations. Furthermore, teachers can employ such representations for formative assessment. A better understanding of how students' active construction of representations influences their opportunities for meaning making will increase the opportunities for a deeper, more scientific, reasoning in the science classroom.

UNESCO has identified education for sustainable development (ESD) as a key factor in the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Education is important in developing awareness of how to preserve natural ecosystems and promote the uptake of renewable energy sources. Ecology education in primary school aims to give students a scientific foundation to further their education in biology and develop environmentally literate citizens who will protect, restore and promote the sustainable use of natural ecosystems. This early education includes awareness of how human welfare depends on functional ecosystems to provide food, clean water and oxygen. However, previous studies have shown that young students face serious challenges when constructing a holistic view of complex ecological relationships. In this study, we interpret students’ written texts and drawings when, in small groups, they were asked collectively to describe necessary functions in an ecosystem, as a final task after a series of lessons on ecology. By focusing on students’ expressed ideas on the availability of energy and matter in the ecosystem, we construe four models. The students in our study propose, firstly, that energy flows or can circulate, and secondly, that matter circulates, is provided by the sun, or is created anew. Moreover, the students often express fragmented processes, combined in different ways. According to our results, we propose aspects that can inform the design of primary school teaching of ecology for sustainable development.