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. BoundedUse 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 < 3rd 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