Msta Investigations

Building a Better Investigation: Considerations for Planning Student Inquiry Projects

MSTA 56th Annual Conference Detroit, Michigan Stephen Best and Nancy Williams University of Michigan School of Education

Objectives • Discuss the range of what we consider “inquiry”

and look at how student investigations fit • Try a couple classroom activities that would lead to

student-designed investigations • Look at a planning tool that can help teachers

facilitate student-designed investigations • Review other considerations for the investigation

process which teachers should consider in their planning

What does “inquiry” look like in the classroom?

Defining and Describing Inquiry • Definitions don’t work - there are too

many different ones for “inquiry” • Best described using a continuum of

practices:

More teacher centered

More student centered

Hands-on Experimenting Student-focused Questioning Collaborative

An Example: Simulation • A technology-based simulation

called “Cooties” • Follow the instructions you are

given • DON’T tap on “Go” until I tell

you to do so. • Simulate using cups & liquid if

the technology is not an option

What questions would you like to investigate? • If you could have a “do-over”, what

would you do? • What actions are you taking for the

investigation? • What do these actions mean in general

with respect to the idea of scientific investigation?

Another example: Demonstration to investigation What will affect the velocity or impact of the cart?

What can student’s investigate? • Different questions on the same topic • Different variables that can affect the

outcome • Different designs or solutions to a

problem • Different approaches to investigate the

same phenomena or variable • Replication of results for a previous

investigation

Considerations for Investigations • Students’ prior understanding • Type of activity/investigation • Materials/Facilities/Safety • Variables • Data that can be collected • Group and class collaboration • Communication of results

For More Information • Handouts and slides available at:

http://mmstlc.net • Slide shows, commentary, podcast,

and other resources at: http://catalyst.mmstlc.net • Contact information at the MMSTLC

Site listed above