National Science Resource Center 15th April
Washington DC
Dr Thomas Emrick was able to share the National Science Resource Center’s latest research project. The NSRC has received 33 million dollars in funding to facilitate a study that focuses on literacy in science. Approximately 1500 teachers at 500 schools are involved in this 5 year intensive study. This is the largest study of its kind ever conducted. A series of books, illustrated with photographs and diagrams have been produced to stimulate young readers. The books are formatted to engage and stimulate the reader, the images occupy most the pages. The text in the books in the series is predominantly question-based, modelling the questioning process to students. When a child learns at a young age they learn through modelling and practicing the new skill, in the same way these small texts, model questioning, such that students will learn how to formulate questions.
Learning how to formulate good questions, basis of the inquiry process. If students know the process they will always be able to seek answers. Students who have this skill of questioning and beginning the inquiry process (and repeating it to answer new questions) will be able to more effectively learn and utilise the full scientific inquiry process at a higher level. They will also have the skill necessary to locate information as it is needed.
Questioning is viewed as key in good teaching practice. Teachers who are able to question well in the classroom are both stimulating inquiry and modelling effective questioning technique. This is the focus of studies by Dr. Ali Sammel who is based at Griffith University in Queensland Australia.
Dr Thomas Emrick also expressed the necessity for science students to appreciate that inquiry doesn’t provide scientists with conclusive answers, often it enables them to formulate new questions. Students need to see inquiry as an ongoing process.
No comments:
Post a Comment