What is Inquiry?

Short version

Inquiry teaching is

based on constructivism.

Constructivism• Students construct their own

knowledge.

• Students are not “blank slates.”

• Both new and previous experiences contribute to understanding.

Traditional Teaching• Teacher as authority figure.

• Emphasize knowledge of facts.

Content and process are separate.

Labs verify facts.

• Fast and easy (for teacher).

Boo! (although sometimes appropriate)

Inquiry Teaching

• Teacher as facilitator and coach.

• Students experience scientific process.

Labs explore student ideas (directed!).

Emphasis on higher order thinking.

• Slow, can be uncomfortable (for teacher).

No one can realistically teach all inquiry, all the time.

Inquiry is a continuous spectrum.

Cookbook Open-endedinquiry

What does inquiry teaching incorporate?• Problem-solving.

• Investigation of concepts.

• Multiple approaches.

• Encouragement of collaboration.

• Real world applications.

Hands-On Hands-On ActivityActivityWhat is milk?

Let’s separate the major components of milk!

Milk Components

Milk

Butter Buttermilk

Casein protein

Whey

Separating Curds and Whey

Milk Components

Milk

Butter Buttermilk

Casein protein

Whey

Macromolecules in Milk• National standard:

Humans use natural systems as resources for growth and development.

• Concepts:Properties of macromolecules

Food components and origins

Characteristics of mammals

Extensions• Students can analyze each milk

phase for macromolecules.

• Students can calculate the % of each macromolecule.

• Students can apply separation techniques to other foods.

• Students can research cheese making.

Partner Work

• Team name

• Date for presentation

• AssignmentDecide on topic.

Find two relevant activities.

Searching for activities on the web:

• Use a variety of topic words.Be specific if you know what you want.

• Add teaching words such as:Activity, classroom activity, high school

lab

• Do not ignore activities designed for a different age group.

• Do not believe inquiry labels!

National Science Education Standard Topics for Grades 9-12• Parts of the cell

• Photosynthesis

• DNA

• Mutations

• Biodiversity

• Natural selection

• Energy flow in ecosystems

• Food energy/digestion

• Sensory systems

• Stimulus and response

• Cell differentiation

• Enzymes

• Regulation of population size

• Biological competition

• Chromosomes

• Fossils

• Proteins