Inquiry is an important content topic in science education. But inquiry is also a way of teaching and learning. In this 4-day training, teachers explore the nature of inquiry and its potential to boost students’ understanding of science content and their self-motivation as learners. Held at the Fort Worden Conference Center on the Olympic Peninsula this workshop combines methods and materials developed at the Exploratorium’s Institute for Inquiry with activities developed at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. Learning sessions take place in classrooms, the marine lab and the natural environment. Dates: August 17-21, 2010
For Teachers, grades 5-10
$200 tuition covers instruction, instructional materials, and room & board at Fort Worden ConferenceCenter.
Credit and clock hours are available at additional cost. A fall follow-up session is planned.
Workshop components include:
- An activity comparing 3 approaches to hands-on science from a learner’s perspective, looking at how each approach affects learners and the learning process.
- Clarification of scientific process skills used by scientists and by students, with tools for assessing and improving student proficiency in those skills.
- Approaches that get students asking their own science-related questions and shifting questions that aren’t investigable into those that lead to investigations.
- A full day inquiry session focusing on natural environments of Fort Worden State Park.
- Strategies for shifting existing lessons in small ways that move responsibility from the teacher to the learner and boost acquisition of science process skills.
Workshop Flyer
