Using Science Notebooks as tools for teaching

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Using Science Notebooks as tools for teaching
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Why Science notebooks?

• Important tools for practicing scientists
• Provide practice writing
• Everyday language
• Scientific language
• Students communicate with themselves
• Students re-read their own writing
• Enhance organization skills

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Science notebooks enhance Science skills
Figure 1. Results of the Valle Imperial Project
in science on science proficiency. From
Klentschy et al. 2000.
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Science notebooks enhance language skills
Figure 2. Results of the Valle Imperial Project
in science on English proficiency. From
Klentschy et al. 2000.
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Components of Notebook

• Before investigation
• Describe/plan investigation
• State question being addressed
• Make prediction before investigation
• Explain reasoning (i.e. hypothesis) behind
  prediction
• Please note
• Often, stating the hypothesis is easier after
  making a prediction
• But distinction should still be made.

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Components of Notebook

• During Investigation
• Record Methods What did you do?
• Record Data in organized format
• Make tables
• Produce Graphs
• Record observations
• Answer Questions
• Explain thoughts, ideas, new concepts that arise
  during investigation

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Components of Notebook

• After Investigation
• Compare results to prediction
• basic stats?
• Hypothesis supported or falsified?
• explain why or why not
• use evidence from investigation
• How could investigation be improved?
• How could you learn more?
• New questions, hypotheses, or investigations

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Using the notebook

• Notebook is not the end product
• Use notebook to produce other products
• Posters, drawings
• Summary
• Paper
• Using the notebook is key
• Makes students re-read Notebook
• Relies on Communication/organizational skills
• Communication with Future self

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Assessment

• Notebook is PRACTICE
• De-emphasize right vs. wrong
• Focus on how to improve
• Requires teacher feedback
• Focus assessment on
• Language use
• Organization
• Overall process of following, recording and
  analyzing investigation.
• Open Notebook quizzes can
• target specific content goals

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Content Assessment

• Content knowledge and understanding best assessed
  using products of journal use.
• A good notebook will lead to good products
• summaries, posters, papers etc.
• Content knowledge and understanding should be
  built into these activities
• Use resources
• explain concepts
• etc.

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Flexibility

• Basic notebook can be easily modified to
  accomplish specific goals
• Add specific questions.
• What did you measure and how?
• Add sections to focus on specific areas
• process skills
• Language development
• Graphic organizers
• Vocab review etc.

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The lab report

• The lab report is used at higher levels
• Fill-in-the-blank for lower levels
• more freeform as term/class progresses
• Notebook follows structure of lab report
• Scientific papers are used at even higher levels
• College, Grad school
• Scientific paper follows same basic structure

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Notebooks Prepare Students for Future Achievement

• Notebook
• Pre-investigation
• During investigation
• Post-investigation

• Lab report
• Introduction
• Materials and Methods
• Results

• Scientific paper
• Introduction
• Materials and Methods
• Results
• Discussion