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Name:

Suzanne Cook
Is about

Date:

10/29/2013

Inquiry Model
Main idea Main idea

Inquiry model, also known as the scientific inquiry, is a teaching model that is designed to allow students to experience with the scientific method. The scientific method focuses on students asking questions, developing hypotheses, and testing the hypotheses with data.
Main idea Main idea

Planning

Implementing

Assessment

Motivation

The inquiry model is different from models that are more content-oriented. This model differs in three ways: 1.) The inquiry problems, hypothesis, and the data used for testing come from the students. Teachers need to create lessons that involve teachers guidance to make sure the students are keeping the process moving. The teachers should not intrude too much because the students need to experience the process on their own. 2.) Most inquiry lessons take more than one class period. Teachers should consider this factor when planning the lesson. 3.) Inquiry lessons are designed to encourage students to use the scientific method and to be self-directed. Two essential steps for planning: 1.) Identify the question or problem and state the learning objectives- The question must involve a variable that can be manipulated and an effect that can be measured. The learning objectives include the inquiry problem and the critical thinking skills. 2.) Plan for data gathering- The students will create the strategies for how to gather data. For younger students, teachers will need guide the students in gathering data and conducting experiments.

Implementing Inquiry lessons are similar to problem-based lessons. Implementing occurs in four phases: 1.) Identify Question- The question should get the students attention and provide a challenge for the students. The question can come from a learning activity or the teacher can create them themselves. The teacher should write the question on the board to make sure the question is clear. Teachers should ask students to explain the question to make sure they understand the question. 2.) Generate hypothesis- The question has been stated. Now the students must form a hypothesis that will attempt to answer the question. 3.) Gather and display data- The hypothesis guide the data-gathering process. Once the hypothesis has been stated, the students can now gather data. The students must understand controlled variables before they gather data. The variable that is not held constant is the one the students manipulate. Teachers can discuss the process of controlled variables through direct instruction or when students are working the teacher can intervene. The data gathering allows students to experience organizing and displaying data. 4.) Assess Hypothesis and Generalize- The teacher will guide a discussion of the results and the students will generalize results based on the assessment of the hypotheses.

The most important goal for the inquiry model is to make sure students can form hypothesis and relate data to explanations. Types of assessment: 1.) Case Studies- a type of assessment that uses paper-and-pencil measures. Students are given a problem and they are asked to provide relevant hypothesis, data-gathering questions, and observations or data. 2.) Give students a script from an inquiry session and ask them to determine the relationship of the data to that hypothesis. 3.) Ask students to rewrite the hypothesis. Students will have to recall previous information for each kind of assessment.

When teachers provide the students a question that is challenging, this motivates the students to work hard to determine the solution. The students will be actively interested in answering the question. Teachers should use learning activities that relate to the real world to keep students motivated in the lesson.

So what? What is important to understand about this?

The inquiry model is teaching model that encourages students to answer questions by using the scientific method. Students have the opportunity to create hypothesis, gather data, and decide if their hypothesis supports their results. Students will become critical thinkers and more experienced with the scientific method by using the inquiry model.