4. Curricula around the world say
Integrate skills with content e.g.
“Construct an explanation of the Big Bang theory based on
astronomical evidence of light spectra, motion of distant
galaxies, and composition of matter in the universe”
:
5. School inspectors say
“The best schools ensured that pupils had
sufficient time to be taught and subsequently
develop the skills of scientific enquiry”
6. But psychologists warn
“Inquiry-based instruction places a huge burden
on working memory. The onus should surely be
on those who support it to explain how it
circumvents the well-known limits of working
memory when dealing with novel information”
12. Content Skill Lesson structure
Content-led New Familiar 5E
(apply)
Skills-led Familiar New Adapted 5E
(apply)
Content-led and skills-led versions
13. Hypothesise
LIFELINE
Prediction – what you expect to happen
Conclusion - what you have found out
Hypothesis - explanation of what you are going to test
Observation - what you can see (hear or smell)
Key
Words
Suggest a hypothesis
Make experimental
prediction
Conclude if hypothesis is
correct
What did you see happen?
My idea (hypothesis) for why it
happened is ...
The science to back up my explanation
is ...
If my idea is correct,
And, I do an experiment to …
Then, I predict what will happen is...
In my test, I found that...
I can conclude that my idea is
__________ because ...
SS1
The reason for my prediction is ...
14. Work through one version, then
Compare with a pair doing the other version
• How are they different?
• How could you integrate each in your teaching?
Presentation starts with some showmanship – the audience is invited to take part in a demonstation of ‘Chi Energy’ and see if they can focus theirs to make the wheel turn. An audience participation demonstration.
Q&A with audience to brainstorm possible learning objectives. Most teachers come up with content ideas. Rarely do they mention enquiry processes– but this is what I argue is the most useful purpose of the Mysteries.
These slides create an argument for integrating enquiry processes with the teaching of scientific content. 2 pieces of evidence for – thist first from the National Curriculum documents in most European countries.
2nd piece of evidence – that the best lessons – according to ‘inspeictors’ who evaluating teachers (UK) – are where enquiry is actually taught, not just practised and implicitly developed.
Here is the main counterargument to IBSE – from cognitive science – from the standpoint of working memory – which is surprisingly relatively unknown to teachers. Much as IBSE sounds great, getting students to do independent inquiry is likely to overload novice students’ the unfamiliar processes need to be broken down and carefully taught.
A slide to discuss the theory of working memory and cognitive load.
TEMI exists to try to overcome some of the barriers that have prevented IBSE becoming widespread.
These are the key strategies of TEMI to overcome the barriers – notice that they’re not focussed on Mystery – but instead all relate to better teaching of enquiry.
The model of GRR used in TEMI skill lessons. It comes from Better Learning Through Structured Teaching, Fisher & Frey,
How GRR maps onto the 5E stages, showing itself as a progression with students taking more ownership of the thinking in enquiry. We start at the bottom, .but we’re not aiming to get to the top. The sweet spot is L1 or L2 – where there is both the pleasure of discovery for students, but also the teacher directedness to ensure effective learning and support.
One new thing at a time. How TEMI manages cognitive overload by focussing lessons on either new content, or new enquiry processes.
A key element to skills lessons – the cognitive strategy sheet. It is a visual organiser to breakdown the enquiry process into its steps, to help students learn.
An audience activity to review the TEMI curriculum materials for the Chi Mystery Lesson.
Optional slide to respond to questions about how to integrate enquiry teaching into the curriculum. We suggest each process is taught as a spiral – introduced early on, then developed each year.