Constructing Ideas in Physical Science Joan Abdallah, AAAS Darcy Hampton, DCPS Davina Pruitt-Mentle, University of Maryland CIPS Workshop for Middle School Science Teachers

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 2 Overview Introduction Pre-Assessment (on-line) Interest in this course - in CIPS

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 3 Introductions Divide up into groups of 2 (someone you don’t know) Interview each other Be ready to share –introduce your team member to others

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 4 Overview of CIPS History Background Content Overview Major Themes Scaffolding Pedagogical Principles

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 5 CIPS History Constructing Ideas in Physical Science Initially (~3 years ago) funded by NSF Collaboration of 3 Universities –San Diego State University –University of Michigan –Eastern Michigan University

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 6 Background “CIPS is an inquiry-based, year long physical science course that engages seventh or eighth grade middle school students in constructing meaningful understanding of important physical science concepts”.

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 7 Background Inquiry-based Year long physical science course Target = middle school students Team or collaborative student efforts Based on research on student learning Extensive hands-on experiences Complemented by computer software Based on state and National Science Education StandardsNational Science Education Standards

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 8 Background So what makes CIPS so unique?

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 9 Background cont. Based on –Project 2061 Benchmarks for Science Literacy and Instructional Criteria Developed to answer 5 questions 1.What content and skills should students know and be able to do? 2.What prior knowledge do they bring? 3.How should we teach it? 4.How do we assess? 5.How can the content be organized throughout a year to make connections?

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 10 Additional Background Content based on Project 2061 BenchmarksProject 2061 Benchmarks Designed to meet Project 2061 evaluation criteria Systematic sequential year long content “Packaged” curriculum (kits) Learning Cycles Motivational fiction stories????? Organized principles

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 11 Systematic Sequence to “connect” the content Through thorough analysis of the benchmarks –four major organizing principles of physics and chemistry to be taught at the middle- school level The Conservation of Energy (4E6-8#1) Newton's Second Law of Motion (4F6-8#3) The Conservation of Mass (4D6-8#7) The Kinetic-molecular Model of Matter (4D6- 8#1)(4D6-8#3) How can the content be organized throughout a year to make connections?

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 12 What do the 4 have in common? Interaction The concept of interaction is the central theme of CIPS Topics are more “coherent and meaningful” for students when each topic is approached explicitly in exactly the same way. Each CIPS unit is approached as the investigation of different types of interaction (e.g., light interactions, mechanical interactions, thermal interactions, small particle interactions, and so on). Whenever appropriate, each interaction is described in terms of both energy and forces

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 13 What are the Units? Unit 1: Experiments and Interactions Unit 2: Light Interactions and Energy Unit 3: Interactions and Motion Unit 4: Interactions and Conservation Unit 5: Chemical Interactions

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 14 Learning Cycles Each unit in CIPS consists of 2 to 4 learning cycles Each learning cycle usually targets a small set of related benchmark ideas (about ideas) The CIPS learning cycle has gone through many modifications Current version includes four types of lessons in a learning cycle

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 15 Four Types of Lessons Our First Ideas Developing Our Ideas Putting It All Together Idea Power! See Handout

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 16 Also Referred To As… Our First Ideas –Elicitation of initial student ideas Developing Our Ideas –Development of new or modified ideas Putting It All Together –Support of consensus ideas based on evidence Idea Power! –Application of consensus ideas to new situation

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 17 Major Themes Interactions Energy Evidence-based ideas Explanations

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 18 Pedagogy Pedagogical structure Working individually and cooperatively in teams Content and skill themes Scaffolding

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 19 Pedagogy 1.Students have ideas of new experiences based on their previous school and life experiences 2.Students make sense of new experiences based on their prior knowledge 3.Students construct knowledge gradually in a complex process in which they try to reconcile the old and new information Beliefs About Learning Goals

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 20 Pedagogy cont. 4.Students’ learning is mediated by social interactions 5.Interactions with tools (hands-on experiments and computer based simulations) are critical to learning 6.Complex skills must be scaffolded over time 7.Understanding is evidenced by applying knowledge in a new situation Beliefs About Learning Goals

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 21 End slide Contact Information: Davina Pruitt-Mentle Director: Educational Technology OutreachEducational Technology Outreach University of Maryland 2127 TAWES College Park, MD (301)

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 22 Inquiry Based? Is that the same as…. Project Based –An approach to learning focusing on developing a product or creation. The project may or may not be student- centered, problem-based, or inquiry-based. Problem Based –An approach to learning focusing on the process of solving a problem and acquiring knowledge. The approach is also inquiry-based when students are active in creating the problem. Inquiry Based –A student-centered, active learning approach focusing on questioning, critical thinking, and problem-solving. It's associated with the idea "involve me and I understand. From: Project, Problem, and Inquiry-based LearningProject, Problem, and Inquiry-based Learning

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 23 Still Not Sure? Compare Project, Problem, and Inquiry- based Learning Explore the ThinkQuest projects for someThinkQuest excellent examples of all three of the approaches

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 24 Inquiry Based Resources Concept to Classroom (online tutorials)Concept to Classroom Using the Internet to Promote Inquiry Based LearningUsing the Internet to Promote Inquiry Based Learning Project, Problem, and Inquiry-based LearningProject, Problem, and Inquiry-based Learning Institute for Inquiry

AAAS/DCPS CIPS Workshop8/2-8/13 25 Inquiry Based Resources Information Inquiry for Teachers Inquiry Page Teach-nology Inquiry Links Back