A Critique of the Proposed National Education Policy Reform
Transforming Science Fairs with Kids' Inquiry Conferences
1. Science Fair
Transformation:
Alissa Royal
K-12 Engineering Coordinator
aroyal@melissaisd.org
Dollie Green
5th Grade Science Teacher
dgreen@melissaisd.org
Kelli Gobel
5th Grade Science Teacher
kgobel@melissaisd.org
The Next Generation of Science Fair Webpage
2. How has the student’s understanding of
scientific literacy been develop through
this process?
3. Question Boards
Types of Investigation
Data Collection Posters
Inquiry
Claims, Evidence & Reasoning
Embedded Process Skills
Cross curricular connections
Technology
4. Science Fair Kids’ Inquiry Conference
scientific method scientific method
competition non-competitive
rigid guidelines choice
showing of work through showing of work through
display boards variety of mediums to
audiences
authentic experiences
fosters collaboration
become experts on topic
integration of technology
beyond word processing
5. Get others excited about science
Investigating with focus
Authentic, non-competitive
environment
Students sharing science
experiences
Greater awareness of their own
science knowledge
Strengthened presentation,
communication and technology
skills
6.
7.
8. Structured Guided Student-
Initiated
Student: focuses on focuses on more focuses on
one aspect than one aspect all aspects
Teacher: model and guide model and guide defines
supporting aspects supporting aspects learning goals
guide reasoning guide reasoning guide reasoning
with discretion
9. How does changing the applied force
affect how high the cork flies?
FOSS Scientific Reasoning/Variables
10. What is a question board?
Setting the stage…
Start with an investigation where
the question is provided
(structured or guided inquiry)
Testable vs. Researchable Card Sort
11. Choosing the testable questions
1. Choose from the question board
2. Last year’s KIC question and change variable
3. Differentiated for students with deep content
knowledge on a specific topic
Part 1: Choose the testable question
13. An Analysis of the Descriptive, Comparative and Experimental Scientific Research
Designs in the 2009 Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
by Sandra S. West, Ph. D.
14. Part 1: Choose the testable question
Part 2: Type of Investigation/Hypothesis/Variables
Part3: Tools
Part 4: Designing Scientific Investigations
Part 5: Diagram & Data Collection
Part 6: Communicating Results
15. Inquiry Planning Sheet/Presentation Medium
Acceptance Letters
Biography
Research
Investigation
Blurb
Journal Article
Presentation development
Rehearsal
KIC Conference
16.
17. Inquiry Planning Sheet/Presentation Medium
Acceptance Letters
Biography
Research
Investigation
Blurb
Journal Article
Presentation development
Rehearsal
KIC Conference
18. JA Guidelines
Rubric
Research www.bibme.org
Writing Process
Publication www.lulu.com
Cover Art Contest
19. Inquiry Planning Sheet/Presentation Medium
Acceptance Letters
Biography
Research
Investigation
Blurb
Journal Article
Presentation development
Rehearsal
KIC Conference
21. Websites – The Epic Race
Demonstrations
Videos
Photostory/Vodcast
Display Boards
Oral Presentations/PowerPoint
– Egg Strength
Live Streaming – ustream.tv
22. Video Photo Story or Vodcast
Flipvids Digital camera
Microsoft Photo Story
8mm video camera
Demonstration
Microsoft MovieMaker
Presentation with Visual Aid
Webpage
Microsoft PowerPoint
TeacherWeb Prezi
Google Sites Animoto
Glogster Podcast
TeacherTube Audacity
Weebly Live Streaming
MOODLE ustream.tv
23. Inquiry Planning Sheet/Presentation Medium
Acceptance Letters
Biography
Research
Investigation
Blurb
Journal Article
Presentation development
Rehearsal
KIC Conference
30. Decide what type of KIC: single school or multi-
school
Determine location: rooms for presentations and
demonstrations, welcome area, keynote address
Determine date: time of year and day of week
Determine time: begin with KIC Pep Rally, how
many sessions, length of sessions, morning
group and afternoon group.
Determine needs for implementation:
technology, materials, volunteers, mentors
Coordinator and Teacher Checklist
31. How has the student’s understanding of
scientific literacy been develop through
this process?
32. Dieckman, Dona, Charles R. Pearce, and Wendy Saul. Beyond the Science
Fair: Creating a Kids' Inquiry Conference. Chicago: Heinemann, 2005.
Print.
"The Kids' Inquiry Conference Homepage." The Elementary Science
Integration Projects. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2010.
<http://www.esiponline.org/kic/
Flippers Investigation. FOSS Field test unit. Delta Education.
Hinweis der Redaktion
Alissa
AlissaBuild background knowledge of inquiry…what are the skills needed?Scientific literacy: language, writing, reading, validity, claims evidence and reasoning, data collection
All of these instructional strategies will be embedded throughout the day and our investigation
KelliNew Expectations in TEKS: K-4 descriptive investigations, 5 descriptive and experimental (but we need to include comparative), 6-12 all 3What similarities and differences do you see?We know that students really develop the conceptual understanding of the concept if they can teach it to others. This also allows for the concept to go into the long term memory bank.Digital literacy skills are the vehicle for preparation and presentations
Kellithink, act, speak like scientistsDr. Ballard
KelliThese are picture of students preparing for and presenting at a KIC conference…What process skills do you see in these pictures?What you will see preparing for and on the day of the conference: Measuring Observing collecting identifying analyzing interpreting modeling demonstrating evaluating organizing creating synthesizing presenting designing testing controlling variables controlling testing standards researching communicating concluding inferring classifying predicting formulating hypotheses
Which words stand out the most to you?Explain research and wordleA Kids’ Inquiry Conference provides students with opportunities to share their excitement about discoveries with other students, to critically evaluate the credibility of their own research and testing, and to draw on the discoveries of other students to further their interest in science, math, engineering and technology. Beyond the Science Fair. Creating a Kids’ Inquiry Conference by Dieckman, Neutze, Pearce & SaulEvolution of KIC for Melissa ISD
Difference between deductive inquiry (cook book labs where student do very little thinking) and inductive inquiry (where students develop conceptual understanding through questioning and hypothesizing.)Rote memorization does not promote conceptual understanding.Students can be moved through the continuum with just one investigation as we do with KIC or gradually throughout the year with many investigations. For example, we will do an investigation with flippers today where we will investigate force. The first investigation that we do will be more of a structured/guided investigation but students will more quickly to the student-initiated investigation because they will do further testing on the same topic, with the same materials with background knowledge already established from the first investigation.
Set stage with what our testable question will be for the dayGive a few details of how they will be investigating….this is a more guided approach to inquiryDetermine best way to collect data by using data collection postersBegin investigationTeacher asks questions to help facilitate student understanding. Students must provide evidence and reasoning when making a claim about their investigation.5. After investigation, develop testable questions and record on post its variables: mass of the object being launched, force applied, length of the flipperPut post it questions on the question boardDo not feel compelled to answer all questions on board. Students can test at home, research on own, or use a question for KIC.Supplies: black paper, sidewalk chalk
Testable vs. research sortMystery substance investigation as an example of what not to do for a questionStudents have 3 options for how they develop their testable question for KIC:Use a question off the question boardDevelop a new testable question from something that we have investigated this yearChange a variable in last year’s KIC question and test it further
To speak the same language we will all select the same question for the inquiry planning sheet.3 Questions to determine if groups have a grasp on what they will be testing:How will you measure it?How are you going to test it?
Cut up
Cut up
Rubric. Self evaluate plan. Conference w/ peer evaluate before turning in to teacher so they have time to make adjustments.I wonder….It might be helpful if…
Advertise for their session. They create posters for the hallway that goes on their home spot, a power point slide converted to a jpg to go on the digital picture frames that go in the front office of both campuses and the libraries of both campuses. Students can also just print their power point slide to advertise in the hallway.Share experiences of past year’s with blurbs
Provide students with guidelines and rubrics prior to startingTrain the trainer model for technology trainings. Only train the groups that plan on doing that type of technology, provide click sheets, how to videosStudent process for what to do if they don’t know how to do something after the trainings… 1. watch the how videos again 2. look at the click sheets 3. ask your partner/s 4. ask another group of students 5. ask the teacher 6. ask Mrs. Royal
What we have triedGoogle sitesEducation.Weebly.comMoodleGlogsterTeacher webPreziFlip vids8 mm video cameraDigital cameraLive streaming: ustream.tv, camera quality, band width, micsNetbooksComputer labWhat we use now:Flip vids, digital cameras, weebly, photostory, ppt, ustream, moodle
Limitationsto education.weebly.comAudio playerVideoEmbedded documents All require weebly pro
Build background knowledge of inquiry…what are the skills needed?Scientific literacy: language, writing, reading, validity, claims evidence and reasoning, data collectionUntouchables of KIC:Question developmentVariablesPrior experiencesInvestigation with focusValid conclusionsKnowing audience and explaining resultsLanguage of science – vocabularyScientific writingData collection and organizationReading nonfiction textAnalyzing for validity*SEE TEK ALIGNMENT