1. Simplifying Inquiry Instruction in Science Classrooms
Randy L. Bell
Curry School of Education
University of Virginia

2. What is Inquiry?

3. What is Inquiry?

4. What is Inquiry?
From the National Science Education Standards (NRC, 1996, p. 23):
Scientific inquiry refers to the ways in which scientists study the natural world and propose explanations based on 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.

5. How Does NSES Describe Inquiry?
Abilities Necessary to do Scientific Inquiry
Understandings about Scientific Inquiry
Scientists use many methods to conduct a wide variety of investigations.
Scientists rely on technology & mathematics.
Scientific explanations must: -be logically consistent -abide by rules of evidence -be open to questions & modification -be consistent with current scientific
knowledge.
Identify questions.
Design & conduct investigations.
Use technology & mathematics.
Formulate explanations using logic & evidence.
Communicate & defend a scientific argument.

6. Inquiry—A Simplified Definition
Students answering a research question through the analysis of data.

7. Inquiry or Not?
Students review the structures and functions of cell organelles
Use this information to build models of plant and animal cells.

8. Inquiry or Not?
Problem: What are organelles? What organelles are found in a cell (plant/animal)? What are the functions of those organelles?
Hypothesis: ______________________________
Materials: * 2 blue or green pieces of fruit roll up .. Golgi Bodies * 2 red or yellow pieces of fruit roll up .. Endoplasmic Reticulum * 1 teaspoon of round cake sprinkles .. Ribosomes * 4 hot tamales .. Mitochondria * 4 chocolate covered raisins .. Vacuoles * 1Jello/Knox mixture in plastic cup * 1 paper plate * 1 small Dixie cup full of cell parts (organelle) materials * 1 plastic knife * 1 plastic spoon
Procedures:
1. Getting the Jello Ready (Bill Cosby Impressions are encouraged!) Follow the package directions to mix up batches of Jello gelatin mix. Pick a light colored flavor. Every 6 oz package will make up 4 or 5 cells. Add some unflavored Knox gelatin to the Jello to make it set up…

9. Inquiry or Not? Leaf collection: Collect and press 30 different leaves
Mount each leaf on a piece of paper
Complete an identification label for each leaf
Combine the pages into a notebook

10. Inquiry or Not?
Use a graduated cylinder to determine volume and triple beam balance to measure mass of 5 objects.
Calculate the densities for the objects they measured.

11. Inquiry or Not?
Students seek to determine the sequence of the moon’s phases by observing the moon every night and recording their observations for a month.

12. Inquiry or Not?
“Does the moon rise and set at the same times every night?”
Following a brief discussion, the teacher demonstrates the rising and setting of the moon for several sequential evenings using Starry Night. She then facilitates a class discussion about the moon’s apparent motion in the sky.

13. “Field Geology” 201
Your geology class is on a field trip to a fossil bed in Alberta, Canada. While exploring the site, you discover a slab of rock covered with interesting impressions. Your instructor invites the class to make observations and inferences about the imprints…

17. Inquiry or Not?
Read newspaper and magazine articles describing the impact of El Nino on the California coast.
Summarize findings in a 2-page written report.

18. Inquiry or Not?

19. Inquiry or Not?

20. Inquiry or Not?

21. Inquiry or Not?

22. Inquiry or Not?
Are all hands-on activities inquiry?

23. Inquiry or Not? Are all hands-on activities inquiry? NO!
Must the activity be hands-on?

24. Inquiry or Not? Are all hands-on activities inquiry? NO!
Must the activity be hands-on? NO!
Must students design the investigation?

25. Inquiry or Not? Are all hands-on activities inquiry? NO!
Must the activity be hands-on? NO!
Must students design the investigation? NO!
Must students always collect the data?

26. Inquiry or Not? Are all hands-on activities inquiry? NO!
Must the activity be hands-on? NO!
Must students design the investigation? NO!
Must students always collect the data? NO!
Must students analyze data?

27. Inquiry or Not? Are all hands-on activities inquiry? NO!
Must the activity be hands-on? NO!
Must students design the investigation? NO!
Must students always collect the data? NO!
Must students analyze data? YES!

28. Inquiry or Not?
In summary, there are two primary criteria to consider when determining if an activity supports inquiry learning:

29. Inquiry or Not?
In summary, there are two primary criteria to consider when determining if an activity supports inquiry learning:
Are students:
answering a scientific question?
through analysis of data?

30. Randy L. Bell Curry School of Education University of Virginia
Simplifying Inquiry Instruction: Assessing the Inquiry Level of Classroom Activities
Randy L. Bell
Curry School of Education
University of Virginia