HR: 0800h
AN: ED51B-0417    [Abstracts]
TI: Introducing the Importance of Scientific Methods and Tools to Students Using Real Data and Inquiry Based Teaching.
AU: * Kaluzny, R
EM: rachael.kaluzny@wmich.edu
AF: Western Michigan University, 1903 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, United States
AU: McKinely, J P
AF: Western Michigan University, 1903 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, United States
AB: The National Science Education Teaching Standard states that teachers should "select teaching and assessment strategies that support the development of student understanding and nurture a community of science learners." The combination of scientific inquiry with ‘real' data in the classroom would meet this standard and improve teaching methods, providing the scaffolding necessary for inquiry-based learning. The introduction to and use of real scientific data by students at a primary or secondary level would require from the teacher careful preparation and a detailed understanding of the material presented, but could improve the students' learning experience and increase the level of interest in scientific careers. This poster presents an example of an inquiry- based lesson driven by real scientific data. In the lesson, students were shown scanning electron micrographs of natural objects, such as flower pollen and mineral samples, and were allowed to examine the actual objects from which the micrographs were taken. Through guided discussion and conjecture, the relationship between the microscale features and the macroscale objects was explored. The students were prompted to explain the functional significance of the microscale features, e.g., the reason for the ridges on the surface of the pollen, and allowed to develop hypotheses to evaluate against the objects at hand. The students were encouraged to reach conclusions, and these conclusions were not evaluated to be correct or incorrect; the teacher's role was to facilitate observation and reasoning. The discussion about features apparent in the images but not in the actual samples provided an introduction to the importance of scientific methods and tools in many modern occupations and research areas. Using micrographs to show students an application of multi-scale images in the real world allowed them to have experience with real data and also allowed them to learn in a more hands-on and less controlled environment. This approach to science learning seemed to help to build interest and understanding of natural phenomena and engage students in science more so than a traditional lecture format.
DE: 0805 Elementary and secondary education
DE: 0825 Teaching methods
DE: 0845 Instructional tools
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting