Teaching Units for High School Science Developed by Duke University Graduate Students in Pharmacology 693/694 Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) http://sites.duke.edu/rise/duke-courses/pharm-693694/

Keeping a Field Notebook *In addition to original content, this presentation shares information about science notebook strategies and lessons learned from school districts in: the Washington State LASER Alliances, El Centro and Pasadena, CA and Gilbert, AZ . Also adapted from presentation by Chris Bergmann of the Poudre School District in Fort Collins, CO*

Why Do Researchers Keep a Notebook? Researchers of any age need to track their activities. They need a place to: Record observations and questions Reflect on experiences Record the data from investigations and from other information sources. Maintaining an organized record is a way to look back, revise, and plan. Students copy down 2 of these

What is a field notebook? A field notebook: a notebook used by a researcher to take notes while out in the field Note: ‘the field’ can be anywhere outside of the class or laboratory (usually means somewhere outdoors, but in our case will be around the school) The goal of the notebook to create a complete record which provides accurate and useful information about what was done or observed while in the field

Why do WE need a notebook? Will be designing and carrying out your own experiment in the coming weeks! Your field notebook will… Keep all of your research in one spot Help keep you organized Let’s you express your ideas/thoughts Shows mistakes (which is good!) Let’s you practice science writing, which is very different than English writing Write down 2 reasons why we need a field notebook for our class

Examples of Scientists’ Notebooks The following slides show real notebooks from scientists who work at Battelle – Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington. Watch carefully as important parts to a scientist’s notebook are shared.

Computational Chemist “Something wrong with this” “will have all of these checked for instability and optimize” Notice the date in the top left hand corner of the page. Notice the page is numbered. Notice he has all this tata in the first table on the page then next to it writes “something is wrong with this” indicating some sort of error but he doesn’t know what (maybe the numbers didn’t turn out the way he wanted

Materials Scientist Sample sketch Results (crossed out) Reference graphs and tables pasted into notebook Materials Scientist Sample sketch Crossed out results but didn’t make it so you can’t read it (made it so you can still see it, but know to disregard it for now) Results (crossed out)

Ecologist Describing the problem – the purpose of the study Specifications regarding the Elk Enclosures

Mine are a little different from yours are because these are waterproof (need to be since I work in the ocean and they get wet frequently!) I also write in pencil, since most ink will run if gets wet

Teacher can include an example from his/her own research, or examples of past students’ work.

best ways to learn in science Why are they Important? From Galileo to Marie Curie to GW Carver, notebooks have been used to document scientific discovery. Without documenting experimental design, findings, etc. science cannot progress *Writing is one of the best ways to learn in science

Class Discussion What are some of the things you saw happening in the scientists’ notebooks from the previous slides? Write down at least 3 Which of those things do you think you might incorporate in YOUR notebook? Write down at least 2

How to be Organized When making entries in your notebook, follow these guidelines: 1. Write the entry immediately after the work was performed. 2. Write the date of each new entry at the top of every page. 3. Title each new section clearly and add it to the Table of Contents. 4. Write legibly and in clear, understandable language. 5. Use the active voice in the first person when making an entry so it clearly indicates who did the work. Your experimental entries should read like a story. 6. Illustrate as necessary. A picture can be worth a thousand words! 7. Record everything - no detail is insignificant. 8. Title, label, and date all graphs and tables. 9. Include print-outs, photographs, etc. into notebook if you use them. These can be taped, stapled or pasted into it, but no loose-leaf papers! 10. Never erase an entry from your notebook. What you think is “a goof” may later turn out to be to be a great asset! Guidelines for making notebook entries (write down the bold print on the slide) Each new section could be an experiment, observation, etc.

Let’s get started setting up your field notebooks! Take out your notebooks Write a title on the cover Write your name, the year, and the title on the cover

Table Of Contents Use the first 3 pages for the Table of Contents DATE Title of Section PAGE #

1. Number your pages (1-xx) 2. Save a spot at the top of the page for the date that you record something (an experiment, observation, background research, etc.) Date: 1 2

You’re ready to start your field notebook!