Read another chapter from Janice Koch's Science Stories today and was once again inspired by the two stories included in the chapter. I was learning so much from both the teacher's perspective and the students' perspective with the inquiry based science techniques. Instead of simply accepting students' "correct" answer, teachers took it further to test their understanding. Students' prior knowledge was probed through the use of questioning. It was a reminder that even though some students may provide an accurate answer, students may not necessarily understand what it means. KNOWING IS NOT UNDERSTANDING.
Another great tip I must note here is also the strong use of student-based learning. Students asked questions that piqued their interests and instead of ignoring them for the sake of time, teachers encouraged students to test and experiment with their questions and theories, knowing that what they are interested in and listening to their questions are the best ways to understand what they know and keep their engagement level high. And instead of shutting down a student if she or he provided the "wrong" scientific answer, students' inquiries are validated, tested, and challenged. Students are guided and encouraged to see from different perspectives.
It was interesting reading the two classroom stories that were included in chapter 3 of this text. What a great way to learn science!
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