Removing the Mask of Inquiry Presented by the Delaware Valley Science Fairs Barbara Lorenzon Director of Education Dick Close Director of Outreach Bill Rissinger Mentorship Program

What kinds of things should a person see in a classroom where excitement about learning science is happening?

Self Analysis Survey

Changing Emphasis he National Science Education Standards envision change throughout the system Changing Emphasis The National Science Education Standards envision change throughout the system (NSTA Pathways to the Science Standards) Less Emphasis on: Less Emphasis on: 1. Transmission of teaching knowledge by lectures 2. Learning science by lecture and reading 3. Individual Learning 4. Broad coverage of unconnected factual information 5. Science programs at different grade levels independent of one another 6. Maintaining current resource allocations for books 7. Following textbook chapter by chapter as the curriculum 8. Assessments provided by text emphasizing rote memory More Emphasis on: More Emphasis on: 1. Inquiry into teaching and learning 2. Learning science through investigation and inquiry 3. Collaborative learning 4. Relating learning to real world, scientific applications 5. Coordinating the development of grade K-12 science program 6. Allocating resources necessary for inquiry teaching 7. Aligning course curriculum to local, state, and national science standards 8. Aligning assessments according to the core curriculum 9. Student performed explorations rather than just teacher demonstrations

How do we connect individual Secondary Science Courses into a Strong and Consistent Science Program? The standards state “the ability to understand and conduct scientific is an important goal for students in any school program…. This is the heart of science.” The standards state “the ability to understand and conduct scientific inquiry is an important goal for students in any school program…. This is the heart of science.” What is inquiry? What is inquiry?

Your Thoughts?

Definition of Inquiry Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards, p. 23. “Scientific inquiry refers to the diverse ways in which scientists study the natural world and propose explanations based on the evidence derived from their work. Inquiry also refers to the activities of students in which they develop knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, as well as an understanding of how scientists study the natural world.”

What kinds of activities and skills do you think this definition describes?

According to the NSES they include: Making observations Making observations Posing questions Posing questions Examining books/sources to see what is already known Examining books/sources to see what is already known Planning investigations Planning investigations Using tools to gather data Using tools to gather data Analyze and Interpret data Analyze and Interpret data Propose answers and explanations Propose answers and explanations Communicate results Communicate results

Inquiry Cycle Data Collection Graph & Statistical Analysis Draw Conclu- sion Peer Presentation Student Interest Lit. Research Testable Question Experimental Design

Inquiry Continuum Demonstration Typical School Guided Inquiry Student Directed Student Research Demonstration Typical School Guided Inquiry Student Directed Student Research Lab (“Hands-On”) Inquiry Inquiry Lab (“Hands-On”) Inquiry Inquiry Topic Teacher Teacher Teacher Teacher Teacher/Student Question Teacher Teacher Teacher Teacher/Student Student Materials Teacher Teacher Teacher Teacher/Student Student Procedures/ Design* Teacher Teacher Teacher/Student Student Student Results/ Analysis * Teacher Teacher/Student Student Student Student Conclusions * Teacher Student Student Student Student *Students will apply process skills – the tools of inquiry Adapted from: “Inquiry: Learning from the Past with an Eye on the Future” by R. Bonnstetter (Electronic Journal of Sci.Ed, Vol.3,#1, 1998)

Evaluate Your Inquiry Classroom

Practical applications for your Classroom Some topics in your classroom lend themselves much easier to teaching through inquiry. Some topics in your classroom lend themselves much easier to teaching through inquiry. What are some of those topics in your curriculum? What are some of those topics in your curriculum? What are some topics that are best taught through reading/discussion? What are some topics that are best taught through reading/discussion?

How can you incorporate inquiry skills into your classroom? Select one of those topics you have identified and plan out how you will execute your lesson. Select one of those topics you have identified and plan out how you will execute your lesson.

Conclusion Inquiry skills will be evaluated in the PSSA Science Assessment. It will use content and then ask students to apply inquiry skills to use that content. Mere recall of facts will not be sufficient.

Examples of PSSA Questions Handout of PSSA Grade 11 Handout of PSSA Grade 11

Questions