differentiation between problem solving and scientific inquiry.ppt

8/10/2019 differentiation between problem solving and scientific inquiry.ppt

1/28

When is Inquiry Problem

Solving and When is Problem

Solving Inquiry?

Panelists: Marcia Fetters, Western Michigan University,

Caroline Beller, University of Arkansas,Paul Hickman,Northeastern University


2/28

Questions to ponder Inquiry is .

Inquiry is Not

Problem solving is ..

Problem solving is Not


3/28

Talk to your neighbor!

What are the similarities and differences

between these terms? Offer a definition of each term?

Inquiry

Problem Solving


4/28

What prompted the exploration? PhysTEC 3rdannual meeting: Audience of

Physicists; Physics educators, Science

educators; and Teachers-in-Residence (mostlyhigh school physics teachers)

Same language used, but clear (for some of us)

that different meanings and applications used

for key terms such as: Inquiry; problem

solving; cooperative learning; evidence;

research; concept; laboratory work; etc..


5/28

Context and Quandary Audience energy was around building

connections and community so differences in

language were not addressed(congeniality/collegiality environmentdichotomy).

Was this mismatch real and is it critical to

collaborative efforts between education andcontent specialists or is it just the nature oflarge collaboratives and does not influence thework and progress of reform?


6/28

Context/Historical PerspectiveIf a single word had to be chosen to

describe the goals of science education

during the 30-year period that began in

the late 1950s, it would have to be

inquiry (DeBoer, 1991, p. 206).


7/28

Methodology

Started collection of personal definitionsof problem solving and inquiry from arange of audiences and sources:

undergraduate science students,elementary education students,secondary science education students,

middle grades science educationstudents, physics faculty, scienceeducation faculty,

Lit. Review of common definitions

collected.


8/28

Our challenge to youGiven the statements around the room --

how would you categorize these

statements?

redproblem solving;

greeninquiry;

yellowneither;

blueproblem solving and inquiry


9/28

Statement #1The process of starting from your own

observations to develop an understanding ofa concept. The most open [kind of this]_____ would start out with deciding whatconcept you wanted to explore. To ask aquestion: to figure out what observation youneed to make to answer the question, to

interpret your observations to create modelsthat not only explain what you saw butpredicted something else you might see.

Inquiry

Scientist


10/28

Statement #2_____ is the curiosity of the mind in action.

The ability to question...

Inquiry

MS Education Major


11/28

Statement #3

Addressing a situation, occasionally havingto determine what the outcome needs tobe, but usually with that defined, and

determining how to achieve thatoutcome. This usually involvescomparing the situation to previousexperiences, identifying similarities and

differences.Problem Solving

Scientist


12/28

Statement #4Using whatever tools one knows how to use

in order to implement a solution to a

given hypothesis.

Problem Solving

MS Education Major


13/28

Statement #5When you look into something. You take

time out to examine something or learn

about it.

InquiryElem. Education Major


14/28

Statement #6Exploring some event or idea and trying to

understand it.

Inquiry

Physics Major


15/28

Statement #7_________ as a teaching strategy embodies

most of the techniques and learning

skills science educators considerimportant when learning science by

investigative methods.

Problem SolvingScience Educator (Methods Text)


16/28

Statement #8To take a systematic approach to a task.

Problem Solving

Elem. Education Major


17/28

Statement #9Trying to fix something, or some situation.

Problem Solving

Biology Major


18/28

Statement # 10Doing hands on things. Getting messy in

science.

Inquiry

Geology Major


19/28

Statement #11In school science, _________ refers to how

students attempt to develop knowledgeand understanding of scientific ideas.

Through activities, students learn howscientists go about studying the world,communicate with one another, and,through consensus, propose explanations

for how the world works.Inquiry

Science Educator (Methods Text)


20/28


21/28

From the literature. Oxford English Dictionary

Inquiry 1.a The act of seeking, esp.. (not always)

for truth, knowledge, or information concerningsomething; search, research, investigation,

examination.

attrib. and Comb., as .. problem-solver, one who

finds solutions to difficult or perplexing questions orsituations; hence problem-solving n., the action of

finding solutions to such problems;


22/28

From NSES National Science Education Standards -Pg 23

Inquiry is a multifaceted activity that involves making

observations; posing questions; examining books andother sources of information to see what is alreadyknown; planning investigations; reviewing what isalready known in light of experimental evidence;using tools to gather, analyze, and interpret data;

proposing answers, explanations, and predictions;and communicating the results. Inquiry requiresidentification of assumptions, use of critical andlogical thinking, and consideration of alternativeexplanations.


23/28

From a Methods Text

Problem solving is also an important strategy

for constructing and negotiating meaning.

Learning to Teach Science: A model for the 21stCentury(J.

V. Ebenezer & S. Connor; 1998) pg. 140-141


24/28

Methods text.. continuedIn general, inquiry is finding out about

something. It centers around the desire to

answer a question or to know more about a

situation.

Science Instruction in the Middle and Secondary Schools(Chiapetta, E. L. and Koballa, Thomas R.; 2002) pg 91


25/28

Documentation of quandary Problem solving is often used

synonymously with inquiry and science

process skill reasoning (Helgeson, 1989,

1994).


26/28

Implications in Science Education Shared languagedifferences between

disciplines in how terminology is used as part ofpedagogy and content for:

Arts and Sciences and Education

Pre-service and Faculty

Teachers and K-12 students

Implications for instruction in content courses;education courses and K-12 settings

Reform Efforts

Implications for how language is used in relationto state and/or national testing


27/28

Questions to be pondered Does the difference in how people use these terms

create a real barrier to collaboration or does itprovide a platform for conversation thatfacilitates the collaboration?

If the difference is real and significant what effectdoes it have on programs and reform efforts thatcall for collaboration across audiences?

How can or when should discussion about the

difference occur to maximize the potential ofreform efforts? How do you do this without

jeopardizing the partnerships?


28/28

Next Steps Challenge to audienceWould any one like to

join us in gathering additional definitions?

What other words/phrases have shared meanings?

Is there a difference between disciplines (i.e.biology, chemistry, physics, earth science,mathematics)? Our sample is currently small andthese distinctions cannot be made with currentdata.

What is the role of past experiences ofparticipants? Prior science courses andexperiences

differentiation between problem solving and scientific inquiry.ppt

Documents