I am exploring what a research based classroom looks like and much of my blogging has been in the inquiry process. I have found an article that lists out an idea of how that classroom flows. The articlee is located here. The article is called Scientific Inquiry as a Process for Learning and was written by David R. Wetzel. The inquiry based classroom is student centered, which is different from traditional science classrooms. Inquiry is an active process where students are making observations, gathering data, systhesizing data, and drawing conclusions. Inquiry also allows students to develop creativity as they are not following a predetermined list of directions, rather they need to think about what they want to do next.
Inquiry can be guided by a set of steps to help the students understand how science really works. This is called guided inquiry.
The steps are:
Problem Statement - what are you going to explore
Develop a Hypothesis - what do you think is the answer
Experimental Design - how are you going to test it
Data Collections - write down or collect what happened
Analysis and Interpretation of the Data - analyize what happend
Drawing Conclusions - why did it happen
Extension - asking a new question based on what happened
The article lists the above steps as how you can do science, but they could work in a different sequence. You could start with Data Collections, then have a Problem Statement introduced, then Analyize the Data to Draw a Conclusion, and then test your Conclusion with an Extension.
This process follows the learning cycle of Exploration, Concept Development, and Application but it adds a few more steps.
I found a book that covers how to plan lessons in this same format.The book is called “Science for All Children: A guide to Improving Elementary Science Education in Your School District”. There are several great ideas as well as detailed descriptions of classrooms that follow steps similar to what you listed above. You can view the book for free at the National Academic Press website, the link is in my blog for this week.
ReplyDeleteHey Ken, I enjoy reading books and thought that your post was interesting. Even though in science methods class we have discussed not taking steps to explain science but I do feel that it is necessary to have some guidelines. By following an idea in a book we can use this as a tool and can interpret the steps as the activity evolves. I liked that the book follows a develomental concept approach.
ReplyDeleteI think inquiry is important because it encourages students to think of problems themselves and also learn how to solve problems. After our teaching the past two days, I've realized how difficult inquiry with young students can be. I almost thinking doing inquiry with younger students takes more thinking on the teacher's behalf because we have to guide students a bit more. With older elementary students, the teacher does not have to have as much guidance as students are more independent thinkers and learners.
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