PATHWAYS TO INQUIRY: AN EARTH SCIENCE INQUIRY SKILL ANALYZER TOOL AND ACTIVITY PORTAL

Pathways to Inquiry is an NSF Teacher Professional Continuum Proof-of-Concept Project that is developing two interrelated tools, an Inquiry Skill Analyzer and an Inquiry Activity Portal, to help middle school earth science teachers enhance and develop their inquiry-based science teaching. The Inquiry Skill Analyzer (iSA) is designed to (1) assess the overall progress of students or personal inquiry skills, and monitor improvement over time in different inquiry skill areas, (2) compare the test results from two different test sessions, such as a pre-test and a posttest, and (3) identify targeted inquiry activities to improve skills in weak inquiry areas based on the results of the iSA. The assessment items, developed using Questionmark Perception™, are based on the eight areas of inquiry and their underlying supporting skills as outlined in the National Science Education Standards (1996) and embedded in earth science content. The iSA will available online or can be downloaded to a PDA. The Inquiry Activity Portal (iAP) is designed to assist teachers in identifying inquiry-based earth science activities in weak inquiry skill areas identified through the use of the iSA. The iAP contains a matrix of inquiry activities targeting specific inquiry skills in the context of major earth science units taught in typical 8th grade earth science classes. The iAP activities will be a mix of specially developed and/or adapted lessons, as well as selected high quality Internet materials that integrate specific aspects of inquiry. Each activity will be accompanied by an “inquiry overlay” clearly outlining and explaining the inquiry strategies as well as the pedagogical strategies to be used, additional worksheets to support any adjustments to the activity, other supporting resources, and assessment ideas. Video clips of educators explaining the teaching strategies and/or specific inquiry skills will be created and included. The resources for each content unit will include: scientists at work, inquiry blogs, and submitting an inquiry activity. The overriding purpose of these related resources and activities is for the teachers and students to understand the scientific practice by earth scientists and to become part of the community of scientific inquiry about various earth science issues. The project is in Year 1 of development.