Inquiry is NOT the Best Way to Teach Science Linda Heidenrich Sojin Kim Linda Heidenrich Sojin Kim

Arguments / National & California Science Content Standards / Reality of the Classroom / Cognitive Development of Adolescents / National & California Science Content Standards / Reality of the Classroom / Cognitive Development of Adolescents

Inquiry Student-Centered and Student-Constructed / Students select a question to explore. / Students design and conduct experiments. / The students propose explanations based on their results. / Students construct the information. / Students select a question to explore. / Students design and conduct experiments. / The students propose explanations based on their results. / Students construct the information.

California Science Content Standards and Framework / Effective science programs reflect a balanced, comprehensive approach that includes the teaching of investigation and experimentation skills along with direct instruction and reading. / Effective science programs use multiple instructional strategies and provide students with multiple opportunities to master the content standards. / Effective science programs reflect a balanced, comprehensive approach that includes the teaching of investigation and experimentation skills along with direct instruction and reading. / Effective science programs use multiple instructional strategies and provide students with multiple opportunities to master the content standards.

National Science Education Science as Inquiry Standards Engaging students in inquiry helps students develop / Understanding of scientific concepts. / An appreciation of "how we know" what we know in science. / Understanding of the nature of science. / Skills necessary to become independent inquirers about the natural world. / The dispositions to use the skills, abilities, and attitudes associated with science. Engaging students in inquiry helps students develop / Understanding of scientific concepts. / An appreciation of "how we know" what we know in science. / Understanding of the nature of science. / Skills necessary to become independent inquirers about the natural world. / The dispositions to use the skills, abilities, and attitudes associated with science.

Reality of the Classroom / Inadequate Science Teacher Training / Lack of Time and Resources / Standards-Driven Student Assessment / Varying Prior Knowledge of the Students / Misconception and Reconstruction / Student Motivation / Inadequate Science Teacher Training / Lack of Time and Resources / Standards-Driven Student Assessment / Varying Prior Knowledge of the Students / Misconception and Reconstruction / Student Motivation

Cognitive Development of Adolescents Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development / Sensory Motor ( months)  Preoperational (2-7 years)  Concrete Operations (7-11 years)  Formal Operations (11-15 years) Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development / Sensory Motor ( months)  Preoperational (2-7 years)  Concrete Operations (7-11 years)  Formal Operations (11-15 years)

California Standards-Dissected / “balanced, comprehensive approach” including “direct instruction” / Direct instruction is critical to the success of the science student. / “multiple instructional strategies” / For a science student to be successful, they must be exposed to various strategies. / “balanced, comprehensive approach” including “direct instruction” / Direct instruction is critical to the success of the science student. / “multiple instructional strategies” / For a science student to be successful, they must be exposed to various strategies.

National Content Standards- Inquiry Standards not taught be inquiry methods / “how we know”-can only be taught by a trained teacher. / Nature of science-can only be taught by a trained teacher. / Understanding using appropriate tools- can only be taught by a trained teacher. / “how we know”-can only be taught by a trained teacher. / Nature of science-can only be taught by a trained teacher. / Understanding using appropriate tools- can only be taught by a trained teacher.

Inquiry Standards taught by inquiry methods? / Study by Dr. Klahr of Carnegie Mellon University / 77% of students with direct instruction were better able to discern an effective and scientifically sound science fair project. / ONLY 23% of inquiry students accomplished the task. / Study by Dr. Klahr of Carnegie Mellon University / 77% of students with direct instruction were better able to discern an effective and scientifically sound science fair project. / ONLY 23% of inquiry students accomplished the task.

Inadequate Teacher Training / ASIST (Alternative Support for Induction Science Teachers) / Late 1990’s / Effort to incorporate inquiry learning / Only 4/14 teachers were successful / Teaching within their subject area / Understanding of the nature of science / Belief science is not a specific process / Process oriented teachers did labs but not inquiry / ASIST (Alternative Support for Induction Science Teachers) / Late 1990’s / Effort to incorporate inquiry learning / Only 4/14 teachers were successful / Teaching within their subject area / Understanding of the nature of science / Belief science is not a specific process / Process oriented teachers did labs but not inquiry

Lack of time/resources / December 2001: NSTA WebNews: NCLB requires $450 million to be spent on math/science programs- only $12.5 million is approved / March 2002: Education Week: Teachers spend an average of $400 on their classrooms / OUHSD pacing plan: 4 weeks on Cell Processes: photosynthesis, cell respiration, active transport, diffusion, osmosis / Other constraints: proper classrooms/lab equipment.. / December 2001: NSTA WebNews: NCLB requires $450 million to be spent on math/science programs- only $12.5 million is approved / March 2002: Education Week: Teachers spend an average of $400 on their classrooms / OUHSD pacing plan: 4 weeks on Cell Processes: photosynthesis, cell respiration, active transport, diffusion, osmosis / Other constraints: proper classrooms/lab equipment..

Standards-Driven Assessment / Teach to the test-it’s our reality!!! / Assessments are multiple choice not free response. / Direct instruction better prepares students for multiple choice questions. / Lin et. al study: Students with direct instruction performed better on multiple tests than those who completed inquiry assignment on a computer. / In direct instruction, we can provide the examples and explanations students need to pass the test. / Teach to the test-it’s our reality!!! / Assessments are multiple choice not free response. / Direct instruction better prepares students for multiple choice questions. / Lin et. al study: Students with direct instruction performed better on multiple tests than those who completed inquiry assignment on a computer. / In direct instruction, we can provide the examples and explanations students need to pass the test.

Misconceptions and how to fix / Literary Review by Guzzetti (2000) / Teacher-guided discussion / Teacher-selected text / REQUIRES a teacher as an active participant! / Literary Review by Guzzetti (2000) / Teacher-guided discussion / Teacher-selected text / REQUIRES a teacher as an active participant!

Student Motivation / Student-directed inquiry requires students who are motivated / How People Learn: Chapter 3-problem solving occurs in students with an intrinsic desire to learn / Frustration deters from this motivation / Student-directed inquiry requires students who are motivated / How People Learn: Chapter 3-problem solving occurs in students with an intrinsic desire to learn / Frustration deters from this motivation

Development of Adolescents / Concrete Operational moving toward formal operational / Concrete: develop capacity for logic and reasoning only in familiar situations / Formal: can begin to deal with hypothetical situations and reason logically / Source: Educational Psychology, Robert A. Slavin / Concrete Operational moving toward formal operational / Concrete: develop capacity for logic and reasoning only in familiar situations / Formal: can begin to deal with hypothetical situations and reason logically / Source: Educational Psychology, Robert A. Slavin

Summary / Inquiry is NOT the best way to teach science because… / CA/National Standards require direct instruction-even for inquiry standards / Standards-based assessment / Teachers not prepared to teach effectively / Lack of time/resources / Adds to student misconceptions / Student Motivation/Development / Inquiry is NOT the best way to teach science because… / CA/National Standards require direct instruction-even for inquiry standards / Standards-based assessment / Teachers not prepared to teach effectively / Lack of time/resources / Adds to student misconceptions / Student Motivation/Development