Connecting Students to Content Through Inquiry Based Learning with:
Online Resources
The state of Michigan recognizes engaging and effective units include:
• appropriate content expectations • students setting goals and monitoring own progress • a focus on big ideas that have great transfer value • focus and essential questions that stimulate inquiry and connections • identified valid and relevant skills and processes • purposeful real-world applications • relevant and worthy learning experiences • varied flexible instruction for diverse learners • research-based instructional strategies • explicit and systematic instruction • adequate teacher modeling and guided practice • substantial time to review or apply new knowledge • opportunities for revision of work based on feedback • student evaluation of the unit • culminating celebrations Michigan High School Content Expectations (HSCE's)
B1.1 Scientific Inquiry Science is a way of understanding nature. Scientific research may begin by generating new scientific questions that can be answered through replicable scientific investigations that are logically developed and conducted systematically. Scientific conclusions and explanations result from careful analysis of empirical evidence and the use of logical reasoning. Some questions in science are addressed through indirect rather than direct observation, evaluating the consistency of new evidence with results predicted by models of natural processes. Results from investigations are communicated in reports that are scrutinized through a peer review process. B1.2 Scientific Reflection and Social Implications The integrity of the scientific process depends on scientists and citizens understanding and respecting the “nature of science.” Openness to new ideas, skepticism, and honesty are attributes required for good scientific practice. Scientists must use logical reasoning during investigation design, analysis, conclusion, and communication. Science can produce critical insights on societal problems from a personal and local scale to a global scale. Science both aids in the development of technology and provides tools for assessing the costs, risks, and benefits of technological systems. Scientific conclusions and arguments play a role in personal choice and public policy decisions. New technology and scientific discoveries have had a major influence in shaping human history. Science and technology continue to offer diverse and significant career opportunities. |
The state of Illinois :
The Illinois Learning Standards for Science are organized by goals that inform one another and depend upon one another for meaning. Expectations for learners related to the inquiry process are presented in standards addressing the doing of science and elements of technological design. Unifying concepts connect scientific understanding and process and are embedded in standards spanning life science, physical science, and earth and space science. The importance of this knowledge and its application is conveyed in standards describing the conventions and nature of the scientific enterprise and the interplay among science, technology and society in past, present and future contexts. Illinois PSAE Framework Standards: STANDARD 11A – SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY 11.11.01 Understand and follow procedures relating to scientific investigations, including understanding the design and procedures used to test a hypothesis, organizing and analyzing data accurately and precisely, producing and interpreting data tables and graphs, performing appropriate calculations, applying basic statistical methods to the data, identifying appropriate conclusions, making predictions, and evaluating competing models. 11.11.02 Distinguish among the following: observing, drawing a conclusion based on observation, forming a hypothesis, conducting an experiment, organizing data, comparing data. 11.11.03 Identify possible sources of error in an experiment. 11.11.04 Distinguish and define the following components of typical experiments: constants, variables, experimental group, control group (or control setup). |
POGIL
Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning was designed to increase student interest in the classroom and to have students learn through experience rather than through lecture. The lessons are designed to help students start learning science through inquiry, which is a required in both Michigan and Illinois.
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science
NSF is a website designed to compile resources to assist in problem based learning in science classrooms for many grade levels. Students are presented with a problem, facts, and other information with questions to scaffold and assist their learning on many different topics in science. NSF provides real-world applications to the content students learn in the classroom.
National Geographic Education
National Geographic encourages students to learn through exploration and curiosity. This website provides many engaging lesson plans for teachers to use in their classrooms.