Teaching Inquiry The BSCS 5E Model

What is Inquiry? Inquiry is a general term for the processes by which scientific knowledge is developed. Scientific inquiry encompasses the processes in which scientists ask questions, make predictions, carry out investigations, gather evidence, and propose explanations.

School Inquiry Inquiry in science education is a thinking skill that can extend beyond science class. Students learn to ask questions, gather appropriate evidence, and use evidence to support their conclusions. School inquiry is usually much less sophisticated than authentic scientific inquiry.

Types of Scientific Studies Experiments: testing hypotheses by manipulating variables. Correlational studies: finding connections between different phenomena. Descriptive studies: discovering, describing, classifying, and categorizing.

Myths About Inquiry “Inquiry is doing hands-on science.” “If students do inquiry, they will understand inquiry.” “Inquiry is using the scientific method.” “Inquiry is unstructured and chaotic.” “Inquiry is asking students questions.”

Inquiry Continuum (Handout) “Cookbook” labs tend to fall at the “Teacher Guided” end of the continuum. Independent projects arising from a student question fall at the “Learner Self- Directed” end of the continuum. Between the two ends falls guided inquiry.

Essential Features of Inquiry

Engagement Students must first be engaged by a driving question about a natural event.

Evidence Students give priority to evidence rather than opinion or belief when addressing scientifically- oriented questions.

Explanations Students use evidence to develop explanations about natural events in order to answer their questions.

Evaluate Students evaluate their explanations by considering alternative explanations, and consider which is best supported by evidence.

Communicate Students clearly communicate their findings to others and justify their explanations using evidence.

The 5E Model

BSCS 5E Model (Handout) The 5E Instructional Model of Inquiry was developed by the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) The model is grounded in constructivism. The 5E model is one model, but not the only model, for teaching inquiry.

Engage An introductory stage where the teacher captures the students’ interest. This may involve: demonstration reading aloud assessing prior knowledge asking questions

Explore Students carry out cooperative activities to explore the topic and to develop a common set of concrete knowledge.

Explain Students develop their own explanations and listen to each other’s. The teacher clarifies concepts, introduces vocabulary, and may correct misconceptions.

Elaborate Students carry out further activities to deepen their knowledge, answer new questions, or confront misconceptions.

Evaluate The teacher evaluates student learning of concepts and skills. Evaluation may lead into a new 5E cycle of learning to expand on or correct concepts.