Via esciencecommons.blogspot.fr
Archive for Inquiry-Based Learning
Great Teacher Thrives in Unique Habitat
Inquiry Learning — From Knowledge to Understanding
From halfway around the world, a short video featuring Vic Hygate a teacher at Windsor School in Christchurch, New Zealand, offers a simple and clear definition of inquiry learning and the impact that it has had on Vic’s students and her life.
Ideas for 21st Century Global Curriculum
In his description of what a global curriculum might look like, Edutopia blogger Terry Heick presents a picture of education driven by inquiry. The three “small, manageable ideas” that he suggests as a starting point for the globalization of curriculum add up to a classroom where students of all interests and abilities can exercise their natural curiosity within “authentic” learning environments. Specifically, Heick suggests that educators adapt to the learners, rethink learning spaces, and leverage the role of play. Even beyond the scope of these suggestions for the goal of globalizing education, Heick’s ideas — if put into action — would create an environment that encourages and rewards inquiry. STEM subjects are uniquely suited to this kind of approach, and programs like science fairs put students firmly in control of their learning.
Via www.edutopia.org
New Generation, New Power: The 2012 Taiwan International Science Fair
Barnas’s article goes on to compare the challenges facing TISF with those confronted by science fairs in the U.S., including MSSEF. “Schools are faced with increased focus on tested curriculum, and accountability of teachers,” he writes. “Not to mention, while schools in Taiwan spend considerably more time on science & engineering than U.S. schools, they also face a shortage of resources (related both to learning time and physical facilities), and often parents with means supplement their child’s education with after-school “bushiban” courses, and standardized testing prep ‘cram’ courses.” He offers an interesting perspective on the state of science and inquiry learning beyond our borders. Read the full post for yourself!
The Value of Learning by Doing
In this month’s issue of The Scientist, Sarah L. Simmons, director of the Freshman Research Initiative in the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin, makes a compelling case for the multiple benefits of providing opportunities for students to perform hands-on research early in their academic careers. “Imagine the impact on the arts if we required every aspiring instrumentalist to complete 12 years of theory and careful study of the masters before being allowed to pick up an instrument and play,” she writes. Likewise, how are we to expect the practice of exposing eager young minds to years of lecture-format science courses to generate the enthusiasm required to propel them further along the STEM path? Early, authentic research experiences, such as those that students acquire through participation in science fairs, can be hugely valuable in transforming “science-curious” students into science majors.
Via the-scientist.com
Students Prefer Inquiry-Based Approach to Science
Via www.eclassroomnews.com
Teachers as Brain-Changers
Veteran teacher Wendi Pillars suggests that teachers are “brain-changers,” with the opportunity to help children make connections between prior experiences and new information, actually altering the structure of the students’ brains. Furthermore, she suggests that critical thinking is increasing in importance, and that the classrooms that encourage and support higher-level thinking are the ones in which students really learn. “I’ve realized that I need to provide more opportunities for my students to explore the inquiry process: to take their learning to the next level, wherever that may be,” Pillars says. “This necessitates teaching them how to inquire and how to be comfortable taking risks.”
Via www.edweek.org
STEM Gaining STEAM Across the Country
With greater focus on STEM firmly established as a national education imperative, there’s some momentum building to factor in the arts in a meaningful way. The result: STEAM — with the A standing for “arts” — implying that the intersection between the arts and the sciences is the place where the rubber meets the road. From conferences like the “Bridging STEM to STEAM” forum hosted by the Rhode Island School of Design, to NSF-funded projects like Chicago’s Art of Science Learning project, the STEAM concept seems to be gaining ground. “For me, it is about connecting—or reconnecting—the arts and sciences in ways that learning can happen at the intersection of the two,” said Harvey Seifter, director of the Art of Science Learning. “We believe there is a powerful opportunity here to use the arts and arts-based learning to spark transformational change in science education.”
Via www.edweek.org
Meadowbrook, MA LEGO Smart Creativity Project Wins Big
What better way to spark an early interest in science in students than to let them play with LEGOs! Meadowbrook School in Massachusetts did just that, with impressive results. The school entered — and won — the LEGO Smart Creativity Contest. Students used LEGOs and NXT robotics in their creation of a “green” city, complete with solar panels installed by robots, and wind turbines. Taking their creativity even further, the students produced this original song and video showing off their project.
Rhode Island Science Educator Makes “Sesame Street” Debut
There’s a new face on the street… “Sesame Street,” that is. University of Rhode Island science educator Sara Sweetman — an elementary science teacher in addition to her part-time professorship at URI — has worked as a science advisor for the children’s TV show since early 2010. She was asked to appear on the program to help with a series of science experiments, and appears onscreen with such famous characters and Elmo and Super Grover. “I respect the energy and passion the characters, producers and educators put in,” she says. It was amazing to be part of it.”
Earlier this year, “Sesame Street” announced that it would be integrating a new STEM curriculum into its programming. The curriculum focuses on STEM subjects through an inquiry-based approach to learning.
