NOS: Using Student Investigations to Build Understanding
Presentation at the VAST Conference, Roanoke, VA, November 19, 2011
In this interactive workshop, participants use an inquiry-based lesson to seamlessly integrate a focus on the nature of science (NOS) into classroom experiences throughout the academic year.
The inquiry-based lesson helps to build students background knowledge of key ideas related to NOS. They then synthesize their understanding by creating a picture and a catchy phrase on a graphic organizer. Subsequently, they analyze scenarios to assess their learning.
Over time, students use NOS Focus Questions to help them make connections between their classroom experiences and the greater body of scientific research.
Questions? Contact Linda Peterson, FCPS MS Science Speacialist at lkpeterson@fcps.edu
VA K-12 SOL Institutes
Presentation created for the K-12 SOL Institutes, State of Virginia, October, 2010
Workshop Overview
In this interactive workshop, participants view a Powerpoint presentation while listening to a presenter provide information and story-like examples which build their background understanding of the seven main components of the Nature of Science (NOS).
Subsequently, participants work independently or in pairs to fill in a graphic organizer with a drawing and a catchy phrase that captures their understanding of each of the seven NOS components.
Collaboratively working in groups, teachers check their understanding by analyzing eight science-related scenarios to determine which NOS components apply. Groups then share their analysis with other groups to process their learning and come to consensus.
Finally, participants use the Graphic and Discussion Questions to plan how they will use classroom hands-on science investigations to help students understand NOS.
NOS PPT Presenter Notes
This PPT may look quite differernt from other PPTs you have used in the past. In order to keep the PPT uncluttered and inspiring, the presenter notes have been embedded into the "notes" section of the PPT presentation.
Rather than simply presenting bullet point after bullet point explaining NOS, the method used for this presentation is one in which the participants can sit back, relax, and connect with the visuals, background information, and story-examples. Taking in the information holistically in this manner, should enable teachers to see the "big picture" of NOS and thus inspire them to do the same with their students.
The bulkof the Powerpoint presentation will come from the presenter's notes. Please print out these notes and practice reading the information and stories so that you are fluent and engaging on the day of the presentation.