1. Inquiry in Biology for Secondary Schools Evelyn Teo
31 May – 2 June 2010

2. Content Overview Requirements of Secondary Science Curriculum
Inquiry in Biology
Content Overview
Requirements of Secondary Science Curriculum
What is Science Inquiry?
Approaches to Science Inquiry
BSCS 5E Instructional Model
Strategies for Inquiry-based Learning and Teaching
Frequently Asked Questions about Inquiry
Classroom Case Studies

3. What is inquiry-based learning?
Inquiry in Biology
What is inquiry-based learning?
“Tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, involve me and I understand”
Joe Exline

4. What is inquiry-based learning?
Seeking for truth, information or knowledge
Seeking information by questioning
Process of inquiring begins with gathering information through the human senses

5. Requirements of the Secondary Science Curriculum
SCIENCE CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK
The Science Curriculum Framework is derived from the
Policy Framework for the Teaching and Learning of Science.
It encapsulates the thrust of science education in Singapore
to prepare our students to be sufficiently adept as effective
citizens, able to function in and contribute to an increasingly
technologically-driven world.
Central to the curriculum framework is the inculcation of the
spirit of scientific inquiry. The conduct of inquiry is founded on
three integral domains of (a) Knowledge, Understanding and
Application, (b) Skills and Processes and (c) Ethics and
Attitudes. These domains are essential to the practice of
science. The curriculum design seeks to enable students to
view the pursuit of science as meaningful and useful. Inquiry
is thus grounded in knowledge, issues and questions that
relate to the roles played by science in daily life, society and
the environment.
The spirit of Scientific Inquiry

6. Requirements of Secondary Science Syllabus
Scientific inquiry is defined as
“…the activities and processes which scientists and students engage in to study the natural and physical world around us.” (MOE, 2008, p.12)
Scientific inquiry consists of 2 critical processes:
What (Content)
How (Process)

7. Requirements of Secondary Science Syllabus
Your students are expected to…
1. ask questions w.r.t. daily life, society & environment
2. collect and use evidences
3. formulate and communicate explanations
Scientific inquiry consists of 2 critical processes:

8. Requirements of the Secondary Science Curriculum
MOE, 2008, p 12-13
Use all or several of the essential features of science as inquiry in your lessons…
Structure your approach towards the left of the table…GRADUALLY (to meet the needs of your students)

9. Requirements of the Secondary Science Curriculum
Inquiry lessons are to involve…
hands-on learning, from concrete to abstract
situate learning in realistic (authentic) contexts
… so design learning activities that require active
engagements of students to DO something that
relates to their REAL LIFE experiences…

10. What is Science Inquiry?
Is science inquiry really that difficult & scary??
List your concerns here:
How we can overcome:

11. Objectives of this session
Now that you are aware of the MOE’s requirements… let’s look at what else we can do…
Is science inquiry really that difficult & scary??
What are the known approaches of science inquiry?
The 5E Learning model…one possible approach.
What others have done using the 5E model…

12. Approaches to Science Inquiry
Three possible approaches…
The generative learning model (Osbourne & Freyberg, 1985)
The interactive model (Faire & Cosgrove, 1988)
The BSCS 5E model
Dawson, V. & Venville, G. (2007). The art of teaching primary science. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin.

13. Approaches to Science Inquiry
The generative learning model (Osbourne & Freyberg, 1985)

14. Approaches to Science Inquiry
2. The interactive model (Faire & Cosgrove, 1988)

15. Approaches to Science Inquiry
The 5E model

16. Origins of BSCS 5E Instructional Model
Inquiry in Biology
Origins of BSCS 5E Instructional Model
BSCS = Biological Science Curriculum Study
Traced back to early 20th century
Begins with the works of Johann Herbart on philosophy and psychology
Learning can be synthesized into an instructional model based on students’ current knowledge and their new ideas
- connections between prior knowledge and new knowledge form ideas
Teacher explains ideas that students did not discover
Teacher provides opportunities for students to demonstrate their understanding

17. The BSCS 5E Learning Model (Bybee, 2002)

18. Components of The 5E Model
1) Engage
Probe prior knowledge and concepts / misconceptions
Generate a question to be investigated
- ask a question about objects, organisms or events in the environment
Teacher to provide guidance in forming questions that can be investigated scientifically
Activity should
(1) make connections between past and present learning experiences,
(2) anticipate activities and focus students’ thinking on the learning outcomes of current activities.

19. Components of The 5E Model
2) Explore
Plan and conduct simple investigations, explore environment or manipulate materials.
Use appropriate tools and techniques to collect relevant data.
Provides students with experiences within which they identify and develop current concepts, processes, and skills.
I Notice
I Wonder
Write down observations and discoveries
Write down questions that come to their mind
I Notice / I Wonder Chart

20. Components of The 5E Model
3) Explain
Provides opportunities for students to verbalize their conceptual understanding, or demonstrate their skills or behaviours.
Use data and scientific knowledge to generate explanations.
- describe, reflect and give theories on observational data
Provides opportunities for teachers to introduce a formal label or definition for a concept, process, skill, or behaviour.

21. Components of The 5E Model
4) Elaborate
Extends students’ conceptual understanding and allows further opportunity for students to practice desired skills and behaviours.
Extend strategies, concepts, principles and explanations to new problem / question.
- apply knowledge and skills in new situations
Learners are presented with new learning tasks and called on to use their developing knowledge to negotiate new task.
Through new experiences, the students develop deeper and broader understanding, more information, and adequate skills.

22. Components of The 5E Model
5) Evaluate
Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and ability to use inquiry strategies through formative and summative assessments.
- communicate investigations, data and explanations to others
Provides a basis for decisions on how to improve learning and teaching.
Encourages students to assess their understanding and abilities
Provides opportunities for teachers to evaluate student progress towards achieving educational objectives.

23. Strategies for Inquiry-based Learning and Teaching
Brainstorming
- generate creative ideas and solutions
Case Study
- Develop critical skills (analysing, inferring, communicating)
Concept Mapping
- present meaningful relationships among concepts
- organise and link concepts / ideas
Demonstration
- each students assumes certain responsibilities and contributes to completion of tasks
- in working with others, students are exposed to different views and solutions to accomplish a common goal
Field Trip
- students explore, discover and experience science in everyday life

24. Strategies for Inquiry-based Learning and Teaching
Games
- simulate learning of concepts or skills
- help students to visualise or illustrate objects / processes in real world
Investigation
- students mirror how scientists think, what they do in decision making process (ask questions, plan / design investigations
Learning Centres
- activities may be designed to accommodate a variety of learning styles and challenge multiple intelligences
Mindmapping
- branches connect related concepts / ideas to central image
- visual presentation of related information enhances understanding

25. Strategies for Inquiry-based Learning and Teaching
Model Building
- design and construct a representation of a concept / object
Problem Solving
- engages students in finding solutions to problems by applying scientific knowledge and skills
Projects
- require students to find out about an object, event, process / phenomenon over time
Questioning
- useful tools in scientific inquiry process
Role Play, Drama, Dance and Movement
- allows students to express understanding of scientific concepts and processes in a creative way

26. Strategies for Inquiry-based Learning and Teaching
Strategies for Active and Independent Learning (SAIL)
- emphasises learning as a formative and developmental process
- instruction and assessment point the way for students to continuously learn and improve
- learning expectations and rubrics are used

27. Features of an Inquiry Classroom
Traditional
Inquiry
Students often work alone
Students often work in groups
Emphasis on mastery of facts
Emphasis on understanding of key concepts
Follows a fixed curriculum closely
Allows for pursuit of student questions
Activities rely mainly on workbook and textbook materials
Activities rely on primary sources
Students are viewed as ‘blank states’
Students are viewed as thinkers with their own theories about the world
Teachers tend to disseminate information to students
Teachers facilitate an interactive learning environment
Teachers tend to seek correct answers
Teachers seek to understand students’ learning
Assessment tends to be separate from teaching
Assessment is interwoven with teaching

28. Frequently Asked Questions About Inquiry
In inquiry-based teaching, is it okay to tell students the answers to their questions?
Is in more important for students to learn the abilities of scientific inquiry or scientific concepts and principles?
How can teachers cover everything in the curriculum if they use inquiry-oriented materials and teaching methods?

29. Frequently Asked Questions About Inquiry
Inquiry in Biology
Frequently Asked Questions About Inquiry
What can teachers do who are provided only traditional instructional materials?
Where can teachers get the equipment, materials and supplies they need to teach thorough inquiry?
How can teachers improve their use of inquiry in science teaching?
What barriers are encountered when implementing inquiry-oriented approaches?

30. Inquiry in the Classroom
Inquiry in Biology
Inquiry in the Classroom
Turn to classroom case studies and read the six scenarios.
Review the summary of observations and answer the questions.