RE-SEED Training Inquiry Based Learning Workshop

Inquiry Based Learning What is Inquiry Preconceived Ideas, Assumptions The Hands-On Approach – The Hook – Questioning, Predicting, Hypothesizing – Developing a Procedure – Testing and Evaluating

Benefits of Inquiry-Based Learning Engaging, real-world applications Integration of disciplines, subjects – Communication and writing become equally as important as the scientific comprehension More social, team focused Generates lifetime learners Producers vs Consumers

Introducing Inquiry Important to understand students’ prior content knowledge first. First step in any class is to assess the students’ incoming comprehension levels, and evaluate needs and plan for addressing content Feedback and Evaluation are constant components of the Inquiry model – must always be gathering feedback both anecdotal and quantitative, when possible.

Levels of Inquiry 1.Confirmation A typical chemistry lab: known procedure, results 2.Guided (Structured) A chemistry lab where the results are unknown 3.Bounded Use student-driven design/experiment/procedure 4.Open (Free) Student identified problem, experiment, results

Levels of Inquiry - Example The Egg Drop Activity: Students must design and build an egg drop device that will protect their egg from cracking after being dropped from a height of X meters.

Levels of Inquiry - Example CONFIRMATION “INQUIRY”: -Drop the egg by itself -Drop the egg with lots of protection -Ask students for ‘observations’ -Generally a ‘Demonstration’ vs Engaging Activity

Levels of Inquiry - Example STRUCTURED INQUIRY: -Give the students the problem (protect the egg) -Give them a set of materials and procedure for designing a specific device -All students build the same model, or different variations -Defined reporting – handout or questions, drawings, etc.

Levels of Inquiry - Example BOUNDED INQUIRY: -Give the students the problem (protect the egg) -Instead of giving them all materials, give them a budget and option to buy different quantities -No set of guidelines for building device (perhaps some rules, but no procedure) -Some defined reporting procedure with student input

Levels of Inquiry - Example FREE (OPEN) INQUIRY: -Give the students the problem (protect the egg) -Allow students to use any materials -Any design, procedure -Any evaluation and reporting metrics

Inquiry Based Learning – How To Takes more time and planning, organization Must understand prior knowledge, ability to think critically – Mostly age-dependent – hard to do < 3 rd grade Cross-Disciplinary Integration – Easier to start with stories to introduce subjects, problems, literacy component. Start discussions early to get kids eased into the problem/scenario – Museum of Science – Engineering is Elementary

Inquiry Based Learning – How To Inquiry = Art of questions – Students asking teacher, fellow students – Teachers asking students Techniques of Inquiry – Questioning Strategies Defining: Who, What, When, Where Inquiring: Why, How – Language Use “Who knows…” vs “Who thinks…”

Inquiry Based Learning – How To Analyzing Data and Experiment Reporting and Communicating Results Feedback

WHIRLYGIG ACTIVITY Objective: Each group should create a ‘whirlygig’ that will stay aloft the longest amount of time when dropped from 2 meters In groups of 2, please work with your partner to follow the instructions provided to you Varying ‘inquiry’ levels Work only with your partner You have 10 minutes to create and refine your whirlygig model Test together at the end of 10 minute build

Whirlygigs – Feedback and Reflection How clear were your directions? Template(s)? What were your biggest challenges? Was it easy? Difficult? Why? How could your experience have been improved?

Adapting Inquiry Activities: Extending Kits and Labs Many labs, experiments, and activities can be adapted and modified to include varying levels inquiry based learning and engineering. Sometimes, it can be difficult for a teacher to understand how they can integrate engineering concepts into their curriculum. Here are some examples:

Adapting Inquiry Activities: Extending Kits and Labs Integrating Inquiry and Engineering: – Adding Costs, Budgets – Introducing Materials or limiting them – Quantifying Results, Data Analysis – Introducing Social, Environmental, Political, Economic concerns, consequences, etc. – Widening scope of problem, procedure Extensions and investigations for further consideration Try to assess interests, possible directions for futher investigation