1. An Overview of Inquiry Learning in Science

2. Classroom strategies used in inquiry learning Should encourage student interaction Should encourage students to construct their own knowledge and be responsible for their learning Should ask questions rather than give direction Should be fun

3. What is Inquiry Learning in Science? Teaching in a way that inductive learning begins before deductive learning. Connecting real-life experiences in a meaningful way to the science students are learning in class Doing activities that emphasize a positive attitude to science

4. Teachers who use inquiry learning Encourage students to construct their own understanding of the material with teacher guidance and in collaboration with others Use a variety of teaching strategies

5. Exploring and creating your own inquiry activities Inquiry in science may involve lab, research, on-line, in-class or field trip activities. In the following slides you will be asked to explore some sites dedicated to inquiry learning and then to find two additional sites that offer inquiry activities related to the curriculum you will teach.

6. Technology and Inquiry Virtual Labs Many academic institutions provide virtual laboratories that are available online Provide an effective way of exposing students to laboratory techniques that are not feasible at the middle or high school level Many of these programs are interactive and simulate real-life laboratories, however many are mechanical in nature and do not encourage the students through a guided-inquiry experience

7. One example of an Inquiry Based Virtual lab environment www.wise.berkeley.edu Web-Based Inquiry Science Environment Curriculum projects in all disciplines of science from grades 5-12 Students engage in activity by discussing their ideas and taking notes online Teachers have access to student work, which can then be assessed

8. A second example of an Inquiry based virtual lab environment Howard Hughes Medical Institute http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/vlabs http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/vlabs Task 1: Explore these sites and write a reflection as outlined in your Blackboard course Task 2: Find 2 more lab-based inquiry activities on- line that are related to the curriculum you will teach. Share these sites and write a summary as outlined in your Blackboard course

9. Inquiry and Problem-Based Learning Case study analysis of a relevant issue http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/case.html Go to UB case study collection Explore some case studies related to the course you will be teaching This site offers a wide variety of case studies with informative summaries of each one. Explore the site. Task 3: Comment on 2 of the case studies that would be applicable to the course you will teach as outlined in your blackboard course. Task 4: Find one more problem based site applicable to the course you will teach. Share the site and write a summary as outlined in your course.

10. Conclusion Guided Inquiry Learning demands that students think about what they are learning and are active in the learning process.