Transcript “Student Experiments at Sea” Helping Foster Authentic Inquiry in the Science Classroom December 6, 2005 Liz Goehring Ridge 2000 E&O Coordinator Penn State University Joan Carlson Biology Teacher Laguna.

“Student Experiments at Sea”
Helping Foster Authentic Inquiry in the
Science Classroom
December 6, 2005
Liz Goehring
Ridge 2000 E&O Coordinator
Penn State University
Joan Carlson
Biology Teacher
Laguna Hills H.S.
What is “scientific literacy”?
"... the knowledge and understanding of scientific
concepts and processes required for participation in civic
and cultural affairs, economic productivity, and personal
decision making."
Knowledge base
Skills:
Problem-solving
Data analysis
Communications
Evidence-based reasoning
How do we help develop
scientific literacy in our
students?
By giving students opportunities
to “do science”!
Agenda
• SEAS overview (Liz)
• Program Goals / Justification
• Components of the program
• View from the classroom (Joan)
• A paradigm shift
• What have we learned so far (Liz)
SEAS Overview
SEAS is an educational program designed to help teach science
thru participation in actual scientific research. SEAS uses the
excitement of the deep-sea environment to “hook” students.
SEAS is intended for middle and high school students throughout
the country
The SEAS pilot program is funded by NSF and is sponsored by the
Ridge2000 research community as part of its outreach effort.
SEAS was created by a small team of expert teachers, curriculum
developers and scientists.
SEAS Goals
In response to NSES “Call for Action” and NSF Criterion 2,
our goals are :
• To help foster authentic student inquiry
• To help teach scientific inquiry through modeling
and practice
• To provide feedback on experimental design and
the scientific process
• To excite and engage student learners by involving
them in deep-sea research
Components of
SEAS
• Inquiry-based, data-oriented curriculum on the deep-sea
• “Classroom to Sea” Laboratories
• At-sea experiment competition
• Student Report Fair
• Virtual deep-sea scientific community including students
• Teacher professional development
• Web Site: http://www.ridge2000.org/SEAS/
 Data-oriented curriculum on the deep-sea
and on the process of scientific inquiry
 “Classroom to Sea” Laboratory
Students learn important concepts
about the remote deep-sea
environment through hands-on
comparison with own environment.
At-sea student experiments
Student Report Fair
• Student Reports
due in Spring
• Reports reviewed
by scientists
• Prizes awarded in
several categories
 Virtual deep-sea scientific community
At sea
In the classroom
Through the Web
Teacher professional development
“Exploring the Mid-Ocean Ridge Environment”
• Course features interdisciplinary
ridge science topics, curriculum, and
inquiry process
• Taught by scientist-lecturers and
expert teachers
• 1 week on-site followed by on-line
assignments -> ~2 credits
What does this look like in the classroom?
The impact of SEAS
on an Oceanography
class
at
Laguna Hills High
School
2004-2005
Participating in SEAS challenged
us to make a paradigm shift in our
understanding of science
Submitting a proposal for an experiment
and working through the data for our final report
were instrumental in helping us make this shift.
Writing the proposal helped us make the
following transitions:
Photosynthesis basis for
all life
Chemosynthesis drives vent
ecosystems
General experimental
questions, often not
testable
Testable research question
including a comparison &
generating quantitative
data
There is one ‘correct’
hypothesis in the
investigation
Null & alternative hypotheses
form the basis of the
experiment
We were overjoyed to learn that our
proposal was accepted!
“What is the distribution of tubeworms around a vent?”
Some of our data ….
100
Number of Tubeworms
90
80
70
60
50
40
Base
Plume
30
20
10
0
0
10
20
30
40
Oxygen Concentration (umol)
50
60
Working with the data for the report helped
us make the following transitions:
Experimental data is
clean and trends are
obvious.
Experimental data is messy
and patterns are
difficult to discern.
Collected data must
align with ‘right
answer’.
Data are reported and then
interpreted.
Results lead to a final,
complete conclusion.
Results show trends and
lead to many more
questions.
We experienced many challenges
throughout the process as we struggled
to:
• Write clearly, accurately &
concisely.
• Collaborate with each other
(arguing, compromising,
coming to consensus).
• Rethink and rewrite our work,
repeatedly.
But it sure paid off!!
What made the paradigm shift in my
students possible?
• Having a class that did not have to take a CA
standards-based test at the end of the year
• Teacher workshop including scientists &
practice with inquiry curriculum
• Encouragement & help through SEAS
coordinator & scientists’ feedback
• The whole experience
What have we learned?
• Giving students the opportunity to participate in
science is motivating, demanding, & rewarding
• Teachers with experience (inquiry, deep-sea) are
more successful. Teacher training is important
• Classroom materials & access to
expertise (scientists) are also very
important
• The teacher’s passion/commitment is
a big part of students’ success
• Program is challenging to fit within the
academic year.
Image courtesy of D. Kelley & J. Delaney, U. Wash.
Our next steps…
• We are currently exploring the “Classroom to Sea” Lab
model as a more accessible way to bring authentic
inquiry into the classroom.
• We are also looking at ways to bring more of our
scientists directly in touch with participating schools.
Stay tuned.
Many Thanks to …
Véronique Robigou
Cindy Maldonado
Chuck Fisher
Dan Fonari
Ba Rea
Doug Nelson
Rich Lutz
Joyce Stark
Craig Young
Tim Shank
Carolyn Sheild
Jim Holden
Costa Vetriani
Mellie Lewis
Stefan Sievert
George Luther
Dave Randle
Melissa Soldevilla
Kathryn Kelsey
Cindy Petersen
Shana Goffredi
Joan Carlson
Charlotte Goddard
Dave Klindeinst
Andreas Thurnherr
Julie Robidart
Tara Harmer
Greg Dick
Norm Sleep
Chris Janzen
Don Nuzzio
Image courtesy of D. Kelley & J. Delaney, U. Wash.
and …
>30 teachers and their students
from around the country!