Teachers in Action Professional Development through Inquiry By Gerald McCarthy.

Teachers in ActionProfessional Development

through InquiryBy Gerald McCarthy

Will Inquiry-based learning improve student achievement in science?

Broad Research Question:

Specific Research Question

Will WebQuests help improve student achievement when learning about Magnets (Invisible Power)?

What is a WebQuest?

A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented lesson format in which most or all the information that learners work with comes from the web.

WebQuest.org. Department of Educational Technology, San Diego State University. 2008. Retrieved 2013-03-12.

Magnetism Website Overview

A Webquest is broken into 6 parts, as listed above.

Introduction

Process

Evaluation

Credits

Teacher’s Notes

Classroom Context

• I teach 3 classes of multiage grade ¾ science.

• Conducted WebQuest with all 3 classes. All three classes were observed but data were collected only from my class

• Class size for 3 classes was 18, 19 and 19 students.

Detailed Timeline• Research WebQuests (Google/scholarly articles);• Send home permission slips;• Give students survey about their learning style in

science;• Show students some already created science

Webquests to get them use to the routine;• Buy resources I needed for magnets;• Do pre-test on Magnetism.

Detailed Timeline• Create and upload WebQuest online:

http://www.k12.nf.ca/woodlandelem/WebQuest/Action%20Research/Magnets/Magnets.html

• Have students do the WebQuest on Magnetism that I designed, take video clips and pictures;

• Evaluate students’ assessments (worksheet, poster);

• Do post-test on Magnetism;• Compare Data.




Science Learning Survey

I had students do a pre and post learning survey to see how they liked to learn science, determine if their feelings changed about the way they learn science and also to get a better understanding of my students.

The first percentage is the pre-survey and the second percentage is the post-survey.

Learning Survey1. I like to figure out things?

Agree Somewhat Agree

74%/79% 21%/21%

Somewhat Disagree Disagree

5%/0% 0%/0%

Most students liked to figure out things both before and after the webquest. During survey I explained what “figure out

things” meant.

Learning Survey2. I work better on my own?

Agree Somewhat Agree

21%/21% 16%/5%


42%/53% 21%/21%

More students, after the WebQuest, did not want to work on their own.

Learning Survey

3. I work well with others?Agree Somewhat Agree

32%/47% 32%/42%


16%/11% 21%/0%

After doing the Webquest, more students enjoyed doing group work than before.

Learning Survey

4. I do better when I work at my own pace?Agree Somewhat Agree

95%/95% 5%/5%


0%/0% 0%/0%

There is no change.

5. I am comfortable using the computer/internet?Agree Somewhat Agree

58%/68% 21%/21%


21%/11% 0%/0%

More students are more comfortable using the computer, the internet and sending documents to the printer, than

before the WebQuest.

Learning Survey

Learning Survey

6. Choose in order from 1 (most important), 2 (important), 3 (least important) how you like to learn science:

Computer Textbook/Notes Experiments/Hands-on

37%/42% 0%/0% 63%/58%

There is marginal change before and after the Webquest, students continue to enjoy doing hands-on activities the

most, with computers the second preference.

Nobody liked reading or taking notes.

Student EvaluationStudents enjoyed creating the posters. I used a rubric to

score, which was also on the Webquest website.

Student Evaluation

Magnetism Pre and Post Quiz

Magnetism Pre and Post Quiz

The class average of the pre-quiz was 63%.

The class average of the post-quiz was 88%.

The conclusion is that students learned from the Webquest.

How Students Felt

Jack & Michael Sholanda & Madison

How Students Felt

Kaitlyn & Kyla Lydia, Hannah & Amy

How Students Felt

Cole, Steven & Jules Jamianna & Amelia

Teacher Observations

• I found creating the website a lot of work; however, once done it can be used again.

• Most students enjoyed doing the Webquest. However, LD students had difficulty reading instructions from Webquest.

• Students interest in using computers for science increased. As well, students still enjoyed doing hands-on experiments.

ConclusionIn conclusion, based on the data, student observations and interviews, students did achieve more in science using webquests.

Teachers in Action Professional Development through Inquiry By Gerald McCarthy.

Documents

Transcript of Teachers in Action Professional Development through Inquiry By Gerald McCarthy.