Scientific Inquiry: Student-led Individual Reports
So you want to run student-led scientific experiments with your class, but still want to scaffold them through the process?
In this individual scientific report, students put together a proposal identifying their investigations on a topic of choice. Students identify materials, sources, question, hypothesis and experimental protocol after doing preliminary observation and background research. Once students have a scientific proposal in order, they begin more in-depth research. Students provide a variety of primary and secondary sources related to their. topic. Next, students design an experimental protocol that addresses their hypothesis. Students go on to collect and communicate their findings to the scientific community.
ROADMAP
Stage 1 - Propose
As the foundation for the rest of your experimentation, developing a thoughtful proposal is crucial. Necessary materials:Difference between primary/secondary sources, Primary database links, Works cited template/resource
Determine initial areas(s) of interest. Think about aspects that are meaningful to you
Make/record observations and formulate testable questions
Conduct necessary background research and select your operative question
Based on your research and selected question, formulate a hypothesis to guide your experimentation
Create an initial proposal outlining your question, hypothesis, and ideal experimental protocol
Justify the relevance and rationale for your work as it relates to biology
Stage 2 - Research
Review a variety of primary and secondary sources relevant to your topic that will provide context to your protocol and ultimate discussion Necessary materials: Key experimental components review
Identify relevant information that informs your work from 2 primary sources
Identify relevant information that informs your work from 3 secondary sources
Stage 3 - Design
Be creative as you design an experimental protocol that addresses your unique hypothesis. Necessary materials: Key experimental components review
Describe key experimental components, including variables, controls, and constants
Explain your proposed protocol, including necessary materials, timing, and your data collection methods
Experiment Replication/ Review: Identify an experiment to replicate or review
Experiment Replication/ Review: Describe the overall emphasis of the review
Experiment Replication/ Review: Provide rationale for your work
Meta Analysis: Collect related data sets
Meta Analysis: Describe the overall emphasis of the analysis
Meta Analysis: Provide rationale for your work
Stage 4 - Collect
The fruits of your labor - gather, organize, and neatly record the outcome of your experiment as qualitative and quantitative data
Collect and document all relevant qualitative data
Collect and document all relevant quantitative data
Stage 5 - Communicate
Detail your findings and offer insight to their significance and meaning in the context of your initial question and hypothesis. Necessary materials: Stat. test cheat sheets, Final paper rubric, Exemplar(s)
Create appropriate visual representations of your data that are easily interpreted
Analyze your data using appropriate statistical tests
Discuss your results, including the meaning of your stat tests, implications to the scientific community, and possible sources of error
Write a 1-2 page paper containing introduction, materials/methods, results, and discussion sections (citing your research throughout)
Stage 6 - Present & Evaluate
Share your work with others and engage in the reflective, collaborative, and critical atmosphere of the scientific community
Present your overall findings to an authentic audience.
Evaluate your own work. What went well? What would you do differently? How canyou extend this project?
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