Teaching Electricity and Circuits Through Inquiry

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Teaching Electricity and Circuits Through
Inquiry

• Shawna Young
• EdTech Leaders Online

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Overview The Purpose of this Workshop

• Provide an online PD course for elementary
  teachers (grades 3-5) that increases their
  knowledge of electricity, circuits, and inquiry
• Help teachers gain skills and confidence in
  teaching this content to their students
• Provide pedagogical instruction, especially with
  regards to scientific inquiry
• Ultimate goal Impact student achievement

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Design Parameters

• 6 sessions, 4-5 hours per session
• Video, discussion board required
• Align content to
• National and state-level science standards
• ISTE standards
• Must be interactive, allow for participant
  engagement
• Must fit into a set course design template
• Must be relevant to teachers

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Design Questions

• How do we best present the science content in an
  online format?
• How do we join content and pedagogy?
• How do we create courses that are
  scientifically-engaging and pedagogically-valuable
  ?

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Design Question 1

• How do we best present the science content in an
  online format?
• Rely heavily on custom video, websites, online
  manipulatives, and discussion board
• Content knowledge can be static, (e.g.
  readings), but pedagogical techniques should be
  shared
• Use inquiry as a hook to get teachers engaged
  in the content, ensuring that they drive their
  own learning

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Design Question 2

• How do we join content and pedagogy?
• Inquiry model helps participants play roles of
  both teacher and learner
• Use discussion questions that isolate pedagogical
  issues and call for reflection
• Session 1 Discuss one or two challenges of
  trying to integrate inquiry-based lessons on
  electricity into your classroom. Describe at
  least one possible solution for your concerns and
  respond to at least one of your colleagues
  posts.
• Use custom videos that highlight pedagogical
  strategies in the context of a real classroom

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Design Question 3

• How do we create courses that are
  scientifically-engaging and pedagogically-valuable
  ?
• Require that they explore science content, while
  allowing them to share valuable pedagogical ideas
  over discussion board
• Weave threads of student thinking and teacher
  practice through course, especially through
  videos
• If in doubt, Pedagogy gt Content

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Persistent Questions

• How can we best use video in this course?
• Chose whole-class setting, not small group
• Show good teacher practice
• Show student thinking
• Are we providing teachers with a good balance of
  content and pedagogy?
• Are teachers learning something?
• If so, is it valuable knowledge?
• If not, how can we fix it?

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Teaching Electricity and Circuits Through Inquiry

• S1 Fundamentals of Electricity, Circuits and
  Inquiry
• Readings and activities to increase knowledge
• S2 Introducing Electricity and Circuits
• Focused on standards, safety, and activities
• S3 Making Predictions and Asking Questions
• Blooms taxonomy, questioning and video

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Teaching Electricity and Circuits Through Inquiry

• S4 Using Technology Resources
• Integrating games, videos, applets, etc.
• S5 Designing/Building Circuits through Inquiry
• Review video and develop lesson plan
• S6 Assessing Inquiry-based Lessons
• Use resources to create rubrics for lesson plan

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Final Project

• Through the Final Project, participants will
• Reflect on how to integrate inquiry
• List of State Standards
• Include classroom management and safety tips
• Develop higher-order thinking questions
• Find technology tools for classroom
• Create a lesson plan with a method for
  assessment.

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Teaching Electricity and Circuits Through Inquiry

• Any Questions!