In the Chapter entitled "Generating and Testing Hypotheses", the authors address this same process. There are so many ideas for how to proceed with this in the classroom, and I think that many of the web resources and other computer resources listed and explained in the chapter assist students in pursuing this. As students work to test and prove their work, it is essential that they understand the questions that they are researching. If they attempt to complete a project without fulling understanding their hypothesis, their learning is flawed and incomplete. It is essential that students have an understanding, so that they understand what they have learned through the process.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Constructivism in Practice
Once again, I have to say that I am really enjoying this course text. Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works has so many practical applications for the classroom. In my school, we have replaced year end exams in grade eight with year-end assessments. These inquiry-based projects allow students to take the opportunity to come up with their own inquiry question to pursue and then they research, collect data, and analyze their finding.
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Sarah,
ReplyDeleteThat is great that your school replaced year-end assessments with inquiry-based projects! In our school, we are constantly testing. I test more than I teach! How exciting!
I believe that students often finish a project, just to finish it. The often don't have an understanding or understand the purpose. I agree that it is essentail that they understand what they have learned through the process!
Megan
That is awesome that your school has done this. I wish we would do something like this because I feel that I test all year long. We have so many test that we have to rush through the teaching just to cover everything. Can you tell me more about the end of year assessments that your school gives? I am interested. Do you give them topics to choose from?
ReplyDeleteSarah-
ReplyDeleteLike the two comments above me have stated...This is a wonderful thing that your school has done. Sometimes our teachers in the building get so burned out from testing the children, or rather teaching the students to the test that they lose the enjoyment of getting to just teach. I think that the year end project idea is a more practical and real life assessment than a paper and pencil exam could ever be.
I would like to see a all school go to year end assessments and allow the students to do projects of their choice. I know a lot of high schools are doing that on top of actual testing. It is a project that they begin their senior year and is completed in stages and submitted for graduation at the end of the year. I love the idea of the studnets using their creative ability to accomplish a task opposed to everythign resting on their ability to take a written exam.
ReplyDeleteThe students can come up with an inquiry question that relates to the concepts that we studied through the year. This is the second year that we've been doing this and it has been really interesting. Much more tiring for the teacher than an exam, though. :)
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