Lab Write-Ups and Reflection Papers
(due Sep 25/29 and Oct 9/16)
One of the goals of the course is that you become comfortable with and proficient at scientific investigations of everyday phenomena. Guiding children in this kind of inquiry is one of the most important ways to engage them in science in ways which help them develop in their abilities to explore and make sense of their world. We hope to help you do that.
Lab Notebook
You will be carrying out a variety of inquiries as part of this class. You may include any of the science learning you are experiencing, including museum and nature center exhibits, science investigations you do while looking for classroom activities, the classroom activities themselves (whether organized by you or your co-op). In other words, "lab" here does not have to be restricted to formal experiments that we do in room 4, but includes any science learning experiences.
Keep careful track of these activities by keeping notes during the time you are in the lab and immediately following. The records should include (1) questions that you ask while investigating, (2) observations, (3) experiments with resulting data, (4) predictions that you make along with reasons for the predictions, and (5) any conclusions or generalizations that you draw.
Reflections on Your Own Learning
In addition to these records, include in your notes reflections about your own learning during the process. This is not a standard component of scientific record keeping, but it is important for our purposes since it will help you to better empathize with children when you help them engage in inquiry. Some questions you might address in these reflections include: (1) What did it feel like to engage in this inquiry? (2) What new awarenesses have I developed as a result of the inquiry? (3) What aspects of the inquiry were most important in bringing about these new awarenesses? (4) If there were frustrations, what brought them about? Were the frustrations necessary? If so, why? If not, how could they have been avoided? (5) What kinds of questions or other guidance enhanced my learning?
Portfolio of Lab Notes and Reflections
Hand in two or more sets of notes from your own inquiry activities. These examples should be ones that you feel best illustrate your facility with scientific investigations of everyday phenomena and exemplify the kinds of reflections you engaged in during your investigations. You may even include inquiries from outside of this class. The most important part is your reflections on these inquiries. Describe your thoughts on the learning you experienced related to the science concepts dealt with in the science activities and how and why it seemed to come about (or failed to, as the case may be). We are concentrating on the learning experience from a personal perspective, and then expanding that to understand how what we do in the classroom facilitates or hampers the development of student ideas and learning.
Refer to specific examples of ideas from the readings to explain how your experiences with the activities you have included in this report either support or fail to support the ideas as cited. Present your position with specific references and experiences.
October 5, 1997
Chip Bruce
Email: chip@uiuc.edu