Converting to Inquiry Science Labs

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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs

• tools and examples for allowing students to
  practice science

by Barnaby Dillon
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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs

• Background my research

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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs

• Background my research

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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs

• Background my research

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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs

• Background my research

• Hypothesizing
• Designing an experiment
• Collecting data
• Analyzing data
• Reaching a conclusion
• Communicating results to your peers

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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs

• Background my research

• Hypothesizing
• Designing an experiment
• Collecting data
• Analyzing data
• Reaching a conclusion
• Communicating results to your peers

Science
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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs

• Background my current labs

• Following directions
• Collecting data
• Getting the answer
• Communicating results to your teacher

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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs

• Background my current labs

• Following directions
• Collecting data
• Getting the answer
• Communicating results to your teacher

Nonscience
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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs

• Background what do I want students to learn?

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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs

• Background what do I want students to learn?

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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs

• Background what do I want students to learn?

• Hypothesizing
• Designing an experiment
• Collecting data
• Analyzing data
• Reaching a conclusion
• Communicating results to your peers

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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs

• Background what do I want students to learn?

• Hypothesizing
• Designing an experiment
• Collecting data
• Analyzing data
• Reaching a conclusion
• Communicating results to your peers

Science
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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs

• The Plan

• Modify current procedure-based experiments
• Teach materials and techniques so students can
  design their own experiments
• Assess learning with presentations that emphasize
  peer communication

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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs

• Example volumes lab

Before We will approximate the volume of a
person using cylinders, rectangular solids,
cubes, and spheres. Use centimeters (cm) for all
measurements.
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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs

• Example volumes lab

Before
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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Example volumes lab
After An alien race has run out of food and is
planning to import humans. For proper nutritional
labeling, they need to find out the volume of
each food item. They promise to spare you if you
will measure the volume of your lab partner. What
is the approximate volume of your lab partner
measured in cubic centimeters?
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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Example volumes lab
After
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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Example molar volume
Before calculate the volume of one mole of a
gas at STP
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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Example molar volume
After

• Dear chemistry students,
• Our company is willing to donate 1 mole of
  hydrogen gas to your instructor for
  demonstrations. Unfortunately, we don't know how
  to measure out a mole of this gas because we
  don't have a scale and we don't know the volume
  of 1 mole of gas.
• After producing the hydrogen gas by reacting an
  active metal with an acid, what volume at what
  pressure should we collect to have 1 mole at lab
  temperature (20 degrees Celsius)? Also, what is
  the volume of 1 mole at STP?
• To figure this out, you should weigh a piece of
  magnesium and measure the amount of gas it
  produces during the reaction.

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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Other labs I converted

• Activity Series
• Flame Test
• The Mole
• Boiling Point Elevation
• Alloys
• Sweetener in Gum
• Density

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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Future Plans

• Try labs in my chemistry classes
• Fix them

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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Thank you Martina Michenfelder
Any inquiries?
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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Thank you Melanie Pearlman
Any inquiries?
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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
Any Inquiries?
Any inquiries?
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Converting to Inquiry Science Labs
References

• Volkmann, M. J., and S. K. Abell. Rethinking
  Laboratories Tools for converting cookbook labs
  into inquiry. The Science Teacher 7038. c2003.
  Available http//www.convertingcookbooks.missouri.
  edu/docs/volkmann.pdf
• Carl J. Wennings physics 302 syllabus has links
  to many of his inquiry materials
  http//www.phy.ilstu.edu/wenning/ptefiles/302.htm
  l
• Gallagher-Bolos, Joan A. Teaching inquiry-based
  chemistry creating student-led scientific
  communities. Portsmouth, NH Heinemann, c2004
• Inquiry and the National Science Education
  Standards a guide for teaching and learning.
  Washington, D.C. National Academy Press, c2000.
• Valerie Ludwig Lechtanski. Inquiry-Based
  Experiments in Chemistry. The American Chemical
  Society, c2000.