IBSE Flashcards
What is science?
A body of knowledge that represents the current understanding of natural systems and the processes which establish, refine and extend this body of knowledge
What is the nature of science?
- social
- empirical
- theory-laden
- uses multiple methods
- creative
- provisional (open to revision)
- contains both laws and theories
Why teach science in the FP?
- develops life-long positive attitudes towards science
- lays foundation for more advanced concepts
- provides skills needed to navigate a complex world
What does scientific literacy enable us to do?
- interpret science-related info accurately
- make informed decisions about the natural world
- apply scientific processes/knowledge in evaluating issues
What are the scientific content areas?
- Life and living
- Matter and materials
- Energy and change
- Earth, space and the environment
What does La main à la pâte mean?
Hands in the dough
What are the three components of science education?
- Minds on –> Scientific knowledge and concepts
- Hands on –> Scientific processes
- Hearts on –> Scientific qualities/dispositions
The scientific process/inquiry skills
- Scientific observation
- Comparing
- Classifying
- Measuring
- Predicting
- Experimenting
- Inferring
- Communicating
Scientific qualities/dispositions
- curiosity
- creativity
- perseverance
- collaboration
- tolerance
- critical reflection
- respect for evidence/integrity
The types of scientific attitudes
- motivational
- practical
- social
- reflective
Why is inquiry-based science important?
- develops inquiry skills
- promotes active engagement
- improves self-confidence
- promotes internal motivation
- focuses on the process rather than the solution
What is inquiry-based science education?
an approach to teaching science that involves exploring the natural and material world which leads to questioning and testing discoveries in search of new understanding
Principles of IBSE
- direct/active
- involves teaching inquiry skills
- secondary sources must be provided
- scientific vocabulary is taught
Essential features of inquiry
- questions
- investigations
- evidence
- explanations
- connections to concepts/prior knowledge
- communication
- reflection
Steps of an IBSE activity
- Engage (think about Q and prior knowledge)
- Design and conduct investigations
- Draw conclusions
- Communicate findings
Three types of questions in IBSE activities
- initial inquiry Q
- follow-up/guiding Qs
- learners’ Qs
Questions need to be….
- specific
- investigatable
- motivating/interesting
- practical
- new to learners
Assessment of IBSE activities
- needs to asses knowledge, skills & attitudes
- should focus on learners’ ability to do science rather than what they know
Ways of organising the classroom to incorporate science
- Interactive science display area (books, tools, pictures related to current science theme)
- vocabulary wall
- question box
- having a routine time/day for science and inquiry
The teacher’s role during IBSE activities
- provide experience, materials and info that actively engages learners
- demonstrate use of instruments/tools
- be responsive to learners’ Qs
- encourage reflection
- ask open-ended, learner-centred Qs
- be able to suggest alternative ideas
- provide 2ndry sources to assist learning
Some of the big ideas in science include:
- adaptations
- cause and effect
- cycles
- independence/dependence
- habitat
- power
- relationships
- time
Indicators for proficiency: Observation
- identify noticeable qualities of an object
- engage more than one sense
- notice and state changes that have occurred
- notice patterns
- describe and draw details of their observations
Indicators for proficiency: Comparing
- uses senses to explore similarities/differences in objects/events
- can explain why they think objects are alike/different
Indicators for proficiency: Classifying
- identify properties common to all objects in a group
- sort accurately into groups (in multiple ways)
- creates subgroups
- give rationale for classifications
Indicators for proficiency: Measuring
- arrange objects in order according to length/volume/weight/numerically/chronologically
Indicators for proficiency: Predicting
- forms patterns
- can think logically about what might happen next
- provide logical reasoning for prediction
- suggest ways to check accuracy of predication
Indicators for proficiency: Inferring
- describe an observed relationship between objects
- make inferences based on evidence
- understand that an inference may not be accurate
Indicators for proficiency: Communicating
- record data
- draw pictures/graphs/charts
- describe observations accurately verbally/in writing
- formulate reasonable explanations for observations
What is an experiment?
a scientific test which is done in order to discover what happens to something in particular conditions
Scientific literacy
the capacity to use scientific knowledge, to identify questions and to draw evidence-based conclusions in order to understand and make decisions about the natural world
