 |
PDI-3: Integrating Science and Engineering Technology (Education Development Center) |
Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Location: Boston, MA—Boston Convention and Exhibition Center; Room 252A
Recommended Pathway Sessions
Presented by:
The Center for Science Education of the Education Development Center, Newton, MA
Presenter:
Bernie Zubrowski, Senior Scientist, Center for Science Education
Framing Questions:
- How can multiple standards be addressed in one investigation?
- How can the design and inquiry processes be integrated?
- What kind of pedagogical model can be used to carry out this integration?
Description:
Many school districts have found it challenging to address the technology theme of the national standards (NRC and AAAS). There have been a variety of approaches in an attempt to address these standards ranging from separate courses of study to having science teachers integrate in some manner the design and inquiry processes. This attempt at integration is still in its formative stage. The full enactment of the design and inquiry processes needs further development to make for effective and authentic integration. This institute provides one approach to addressing this challenge.
There will be three types of activities during the institute:
- A hands-on investigation of one project
- A reflective discussion of how this one project represents a useful model for integrating the design and inquiry processes
- Introduction and discussion of a general pedagogical model for integrating design and inquiry
- A viewing of videos of classroom implementation of this approach
Participants will be challenged to design a model windmill while working within the constraints of limited materials and time. They will move through several stages of the design process carrying out iterations to improve the model windmill’s performance.
Then there will be a shift to an inquiry mode where questions will be generated, experiments designed and carried out, results reported and discussed. Specific physical science concepts will be introduced that help in the understanding of the efficient functioning of the model windmill.
A discussion will then be carried out reflecting on the nature of these activities as they relate to the design and inquiry process. How can both processes be addressed in a way that students come away with a formative experience giving them a feeling and a conception for the essential elements of each process? A pedagogical model will be introduced that provides one approach for the integration of design and inquiry.
Videos will be introduced for the study of pedagogical practices activities in the implementation of an integrated approach. Participants will observe and discuss segments of the videos to understand what is involved in an integrated approach.
he institute will be led by Bernie Zubrowski. During the past ten years Bernie Zubrowski has been involved in several curriculum development projects focused on design and engineering. These have included the Models in Technology and Science project, the World in Motion curriculum of the Society of Automotive engineers, the Design-it curriculum published by Kelvin. He recently received special recognition for his work from the New England Engineering Association as well as the Faraday award from NSTA. He has also been involved in many institutes for professional development of teachers.