Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Infrastructure for Inquiry
Julia McArthur
Division of Teaching and Learning
and
Charlene M. Waggoner
Department of Biological Sciences
Funded by Project NOVA (NASA Opportunities for Visionary
Academics) and the National Science Foundation (DUE)
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Infrastructure for Inquiry
Creating an environment where students and instructors can successfully do science.
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Outline
Inquiry-based science Goals and realities of implementation Assessment solution Summary and Conclusions
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Inquiry-based labs
Activities are readily available.
Simple materials.
Readily adapted to content, goals, and available equipment.
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Doing Inquiry
Often a new format for undergraduates. Causes anxiety. “What am I supposed to do?” “What is the right answer?” “What do I need to know for the exam?”
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Teaching Inquiry
Often a new format for Instructors and graduate teaching assistants. Causes anxiety. Lab can be unpredictable. Need to know material and resources in greater
depth to anticipate questions and problems. Uncomfortable as facilitator.
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Assessing Inquiry
Standard laboratory assessments do not assess the types of student learning encouraged.
Require memorization and not application. Often segregate inquiry and process from
“learning”.Costa and Kallick, 1995
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Issues with Inquiry
Students need instructional support. Instructors need pedagogical development. Assessment needs to be aligned with goals.
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Outline
Inquiry-based science Goals and realities of implementation Assessment solution Summary and Conclusions
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Realignment
FIRST Align Assessment to Goals, Then decide what support students need to
meet goals, Then find mechanisms for development of
effective instructors.
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Goals
Provide students, particularly preservice teachers, with an authentic research-based experience.
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Real Goals
Have students do science. Allow students to develop skills necessary to
do science. Asking questions, designing experiments,
manipulating materials, collecting data, evaluating evidence, communicating findings.
Transfer content and process knowledge to new situations.
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Realities
Many students Multiple sections
26 consecutive labs 2 hours
Graduate teaching assistants 3 sections of 30 students each Little or no preparation for teaching
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Outline
Inquiry-based science Goals and realities of implementation Assessment solution Summary and Conclusions
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Any Solutions
Must reward students for doing inquiry. Must model all processes for students and
instructors. Must provide sufficient support for everyone
to succeed.
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Students Doing Science
Every activity is constructed as a research question.
Students keep a detailed journal entry for every research question.
Each activity emphasizes different aspects of the process of doing science.
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Types of Laboratories
Understanding survivorship using model systems
Evaluating human survivorship Population growth using Duckweed
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Portfolio Assessment
Linked directly to the laboratory journal. Special pages that include space for
instructions, student response, and a grading rubric.
Require students to reflect on the process. Require students to set goals and then
document their own progress.
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Reflection Page
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Student Portfolios
Midterm
“This is my best collection because the graph shows exactly what tests were collected and they are all dated and initialed. Also they tell where all were sampled from and the outcome of the experiment.”
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Student Portfolios
Final
“I now understand that the data collection is the raw data, not just what we added like my other. Plus I learned that the raw data is the experimental outcome before being analyzed.”
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Student Portfolios
I will be able to ask better questions in the future if I…“Change my way of thinking. I am not very scientifically minded. I, as a person, don’t question. If I begin to do so, my questions will improve and be more frequent. I plan to work on this in the laboratory. I think the few questions I do have are focused and can be scientifically answered. There is just a lack of them. Questions about experiments should come from discrepancies in experiments or from knowledge unknown.”
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Student Portfolios
“I now have a better understanding of how to set up an experiment so it can be more successful. It helps to have previous knowledge and to brainstorm different ideas for the experiment & to think out your controls so you know how to make sure they are carried out well enough for your experiment. I am also able to come up with many ways to limit mistakes made from previous experiments.”
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Other Assessments
Skills points Journal Checks Written assignments Mini posters Written exams
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Instructor support
MODELLING Master teacher Hands on
STRUCTURE Detailed grading rubrics Detailed script
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Progress
Versions of the portfolio are being used in all sections of Introductory Biology and Environment of Life.
Instructor’s manual is under development as are modifications of rubrics, and prelab activities.
Evaluation of program is ongoing.
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Outline
Inquiry-based science Goals and realities of implementation Assessment solution Summary and Conclusions
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Summary
Reward what you value. If you want students to do science then reward them for doing it.
MODEL. MODEL. MODEL. Support and structure are essential.
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Conclusions
The structured portfolio shows promise as a mechanism for assessing student understanding of the process of science.
In combination with other assessment tools it provides a picture of student progress toward course goals.
Waggoner and McArthurBowling Green State University
Acknowledgements
Dr. Mark Gromko, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.
Dr. Eileen Underwood, Associate Professor, Biology
Graduate Students Kim Keller Amy Kireta Lyscelle Welcome And many others
Undergraduates Jacob Melrose Kristine Welling