investigative study for learner...

Learner Diversity and Investigative Study

2010/10/14

1

Learner Diversity

Learning stylesIndividual students tend to learn more readily some ways than othersIndividual teachers tend to teach in ways that complement their own learning styles

Cognitive developmentConcrete / Formal reasoning ability

MisconceptionsPrior / Alternative conceptions

2

Investigative Study

It refers to the creation of a classroom where students are engaged in (essentially) open-ended, student-centered, hands-on activities. This means that students must make at least some decisions about what they are doing and what their work means—thinking along the way.

3

Tasks Make a Difference

Task ADraw a circle of radius 10 cm using a blue

ball pen

Task BDraw a circle

4

Measurement of Friction

Items Description

Question Measure the coefficient of sliding friction between two surfaces

Method Using a ramp and measuring its inclination

Materials A flat board, a wooden block, a metre

rule

Data Length (A) and (B)

Procedure Measure the height (A) and length (B) of the inclination

Solution Coefficient of friction between the surfaces: μ

= A / B

5

Level of InquiryLevel (1) (2) (3 ) (4)

Question

Method

Solution (Conclusion)

Michael E. Fay and Stacey Lowery Bretz, 2008, Structuring the Level of Inquiry in Our Classroom, The Science Teacher, Vol.75(5), p.38-42

6

Student Independence Lowest Highest

Inquiry Level

(4)

(3)

(2)

(1)

September June

Different Paths

A

B

C

7

Time

NSS Physics CurriculumCompulsory PartI.

Heat and Gases

25 hoursII.

Force and Motion

55 hoursUnderstand friction as a force opposing motion/tendency of motion

III.

Wave Motion

48 hoursIV.

Electricity and Magnetism

56 hoursV.

Radioactivity and Nuclear Energy

16 hours

Elective Part (Any 2 out of 4)V.

Astronomy and Space Science

27 hoursVI.

Atomic World

27 hoursVII.

Energy and Use of Energy

27 hoursVIII

.

Medical Physics

27 hours

8

Sliding Friction

Design an investigation to answer the question: What factors affect (sliding) friction ?

Develop each component of the investigation including a hypothesis, procedures, data analysis, and conclusions

TheoryThe force of sliding friction Ff is proportional to the force perpendicular to the surface F⊥ (i.e. Ff = μF⊥)

9

F⊥

Mg

Standard Experiments

1.

Pulling a body over a plane surface at constant speed

2.

Finding the angle of an inclined plane down which a body slides at constant speed

10

A School Example

1.

Free to choose electives (3 X)Limited report writing experience in F.2Command of English is fairMotivation to learn is fair

2.

Class size: 40 (10 groups of size 4)Boys from 5 different classes

3.

Large individual differenceRanking from 21 - 164 in F.3

4 students in top rank < 4015 students in bottom rank >140

4.

∼15 students do not take extension in Math

11

Time Schedule

Stage I

Planning

Stage II

Implementation

Stage III

Report

1.

Question -

Introduce task

2.

Method -

Conduct experiment

3.

Solution -

Write report

12

Proposal

Group Factor to be investigated Independent variable

1 Nature of surface Nature of surface

2 Mass Mass / surface

3 Inclination of mass Angle of inclination / mass

4 Magnitude of applied force Applied force

5 Length of string used to pull the object Length of string

6 Materials (nature of surface?)

7 Nature of surface Applied force

8 Inclined slope Angle of inclination

9 Surface area of the object Contact surface area

10 Mass Mass of object

13

Proposed Factors

14

Proposed Factors

15

Assessment Of Learning

Summative Perspective:1.

Teach a chapter

2.

Ask students to have revision

3.

Quiz /assignment4.

Mark quiz /assignment

L & T process

Assessthe learning outcome

16

Assessment For Learning

Formative Perspective:1. Construct a topic2. Plan a problem solving

procedure3. Carry out the procedure4. Record data5. Analysis6. Drawing conclusion7. Report writing

Modify, refine

All are L&T process !

It is possible to assess for learning in every stages !

17

Feedback

Stage I

Planning

1.

Introduce task Refine the task

Student Teacher

Plan, modify

Written/spoken Feedback

18

Procedure / Method

Factor -

Mass

Newton’s 2nd law :

F – fL = 0, F is the applied force acting on the object, which is equal to friction

19

Feedback

Stage II

Implementation2.

Experiment Refine the

procedure

Student TeacherRespond and answer

Raise questions

20

DialogueT: What’re the factors?

S: MassT: How to measure friction?

S: Use spring balanceT: Do you mean that the reading of spring balance equals to friction?

S: I’ll take the reading when the object accelerates.T: Newton’s 2nd

law said when it accelerates, there is net force acting on it.

What’s the net force acting on the object ?S: Applied force plus friction

T: Does the spring balance measure the net force or applied force or friction?S: Net force

T: How do you know the object is accelerated

or at constant speed?S: ...

21

DialogueT: What’s the factor that you’re going to study?

S: inclinationT: How to measure friction?

S: Use inclination and count the time down the slopeT: What’s the relationship between “time”

& “friction”?

S: s = ut + ½ at2 ?T: Where’s the “friction”?

S: F = ma ?T: What’s the meaning of “F”

and “m”

in this equation?

S: F is net force and m is mass of the object.T: What is the net force

acting on the object along the inclined plane?

S : Draw a diagram to show all the forces acting on the bodyT: How do you know there is a net

force

acting on it?

S: ...

22

Feedback

Stage III

Report3.

Do report

Student Teacher

Submit report

Written/spoken feedback

23

Sample ReportGp Factor to study Method of measuring friction

1 Nature of surface Applying fixed weights

Newton’s 2nd law :

F – fL = 0

F is the applied force acting on the object, which is equal to friction

Tension = applied force= weight

24

Gp Factor to study Method of measuring friction

7 Nature of surface Time of an object sliding down an incline

Different surface as the incline

Sample Report

Sample ReportGp Factor to study Method of measuring friction

7 Nature of surface Time of an object sliding down an incline

Take average toMinimize random error

Equation of motion Applied Newton’s 2nd Law of motion

26

Sample ReportGp Factor to study Method of measuring friction

5 Length of string used to pull the object

Pull by spring balance

Newton’s 2nd law :

F – f = 0

27

Sample ReportGp Factor to study Method of measuring friction

5 Length of string used to pull the object

Pull by spring balance

•Trial and error

•Observe and refine the procedure

•Critical on the hypothesis

28

Sample Report

Is it a poor design?

•Refine set-up >5 times (before, during and after experiment)

•The set-up keeps on improving based on more understanding about stopping distance

•Never give up

Gp Factor to study

Method of measuring friction

4 Magnitude of Applied force

Stopping distance

29

Sample ReportGp Factor to

studyMethod of measuring friction

4 Magnitude of Applied force

Stopping distance

• Data points too small

• Poor table present

• Poor scale

• No calculation

30

Transformative Open-ended inquiryStudent/Teacher is partner

Generative Structured/Guided inquiryStudent construct knowledge

TransmissionClosed-ended inquiryPrescriptive learning

Wink, J. (1997)

Sample Report

Thank you

33