inquiry-based discovery learning

Inquiry-based discovery methods allow students to draw conclusions and construct meaning for open-ended questions by collecting and analyzing data with minimal guidance or instruction. In such activities, the process of investigating is valued as much as, if not more than, the results of those efforts. Skills associated with scientific inquiry include asking questions, planning and conducting investigations, using appropriate tools and techniques to gather data, thinking critically and logically about relationships between evidence and explanations, constructing and analyzing alternative explanations, and communicating scientific arguments.

Term source
jce alt
Mg reacting with water
// Thursday, October 20, 2016 Daniel Meyers
Target Inquiry “is an exciting, 2½-year, rigorous, and transformational professional development program designed to improve the frequency and quality of inquiry instruction in middle and high school science” (GVSU Target Inquiry).
// Tuesday, October 4, 2016 Tom Kuntzleman
Each year, I try out some experiments that connect to the annual National Chemistry Week (NCW) theme. The theme for NCW this year is “Forensics: Solving Mysteries through Chemistry: Focusing on the chemistry of fibers and forensics”. Based on this description, I decided to spend some time experimenting with dyeing fibers.
forensics practicum
// Saturday, October 1, 2016 Lauren Stewart
If you are familiar with Modeling Instruction in physics, you know there are awesome assessments at the end of units called practicums. First, let me distinguish between practicals and practicums. The purpose of a lab practical typically is to assess a student’s ability to collect and analyze data.
Crutches
// Wednesday, August 31, 2016 Lauren Stewart
Like most chemistry teachers, one of the first things I go over in the beginning of the year is unit conversions. Students come into my class with all sorts of prior knowledge concerning unit conversions; some good, some bad and some downright ugly.
magnetic ping pong model kits
// Tuesday, July 26, 2016 Doug Ragan
A while back, I saw a twitter a pic showing what looked like some colored ping pong balls being used to represent molecular model kits.  Thanks Rich Lund @MrLundScience.