HHMI Middle School Science Teachers Workshop, Summer 2005

Inquiry-Based Labs in Biological and Physical Science


Summary of Teacher Evaluations of the Workshop

Responses to evaluation questions:

      

SA
 A
 N
 D
 SD
    

The instructors communicated effectively.
 12
 7
 1
 0
 0

The instructors made effective use of class time.
 4
 9
 4
 1
 2

The instructors generated enthusiasm in me for the material.
 10
 9
 1
 0
 0

The materials provided were appropriate and useful.
 8
 10
 2
 0
 0

The in-class activities were appropriate and useful.
 7
 9
 4
 0
 0

I will use some of the workshop activities in future classes.
 9
 11
 0
 0
 0

I will use all of the workshop activities in future classes.
 1
 5
 11
 2
 1

The workshop as a whole fostered my intellectual growth.
 13
 7
 0
 0
 0

Responses to narrative questions:

What segments of the workshop were the most interesting and/or effective?
- simple machines and the Kenyon visit
- the hands-on activities/labs
- I think the workshop was one of the better ones I've attended.  The take home materials will be used in my room for years to come.  Thank you!
- Data analysis - using graphing, seeing results and not just discussing them.
- Levers, friction, and inquiry exercise were the most interesting
- inquiry-based
- I feel that the inquiry-based approach aspect to all lessons taught was effective.  Even though some of the content didn't relate to what I teach the inquiry-based format did and I can use that to apply to future lessons.
- Learning how to use Excel to make graphs
- most were interesting
- Inquiry science is a great love of mine!  I am doing my thesis on this in the fall.
- The variety of ways to teach science through discovery; personally - learning how to use Excel
- Kenyon field trip
- The most interesting workshops for myself were the workshops that pertained to simple machines.
- I-buttons with fur and blubber activity
- I liked the hands-on activities the best!  I also thought the use of the activity sheets was a good way of getting students to think about the activities.
- At Kenyon where we discussed heat, etc.
- Tour of Kenyon College labs; segment on heat transfer
- The inquiry based experiments, where we actually did inquiry learning and modeled the things we would expect our students to discover.
- The segments with the pulley, washers, etc.
- The most interesting was working at the college.

What aspects of the workshop could use improvement?
- we need less "down time"
- the technical terms for those non-science majors (e.g. Special Ed. teachers)
- I had a hard time understanding some of the concepts discussed the 2nd day, but I did learn a lot.
- Start earlier - 8 AM - and 1/2 hour lunch.
- I wanted to do more with the biological adaptations.
- grade level/state standards [perhaps?] grade level at one time
- time management could be improved - working lunch, etc.
- Not so much down time or put time limits on activities and provide data that is gathered even though not complete.
- planning activities based on shorter segments of time
- Not all of the activities went with my standards.  Start at 8 - work through lunch, leave at 3:00.
- Don't do the finch lab first!
- Some of the transition evolved into down-time.
- time management (too much down time)
- Finch activity; tie in with sixth grade standards in more areas.  Time, maybe start earlier.
- At times there was too much wait time where nothing seemed to be happening.  However having the time to do the experiments was great.
- Start with structured inquiry activities and work toward open-ended.
- I think it was great as it was
- Maybe focus on more than one type of instructional method rather than spend a week on one method.
- Using content from each grade level.  There was too much down time which could've been used.
- I would not do the bird activity first.  It was too much on the first day; it scared people.  [Also] start sooner.

What additional equipment would you like to have to assist you in teaching middle school science?
- any low-tech devices
- Our school really needs just about everything.  We especially need microscopes.
- Already discussed with our school, list given [to program director]
- See list [given to program director]
- I-buttons - kids would really enjoy using them
- more I-buttons and heat lamps
- more scales, microscopes, prepared slides, computers in my room
- Anything with my 6th grade standards.
- Electronic metric balance, I-buttons and readers
- Data loggers across the disciplines
- Microscopes and prepared slides.
- Already discussed with our school group.
- We filled out a list.
- I feel like I have adequate equipment to use in Science Class.
- Already listed
- microscopes, I-buttons, computers!
- Bones

What other types of support would you like to have to assist you in teaching middle school science?
- We work with the Kenyon mentors.  I would be great to have some science majors to mentor my students.
- Availability of instructors throughout the year - if only by contact with phone
- Workshops on a yearly basis to enhance teaching of the standards
- more info using technology in the classroom (internet sites to show examples, united streaming); labs and supplies to go with standards, age appropriate and time appropriate, or ideas of how to modify for the classroom
- Professors to help with certain topics.
- "You" come in and teach in my environment with my kids!
- PBL units
- Tech and lab support.
- More workshops like this, providing different idea/activities to teach the standards in class.
- To possibly bring students to the College to see facilities.
- I would like to have access to all types of labs and experiments that I can do in a classroom.
- Speakers?
- more on cells and animals

If you would like to comment further on any items above, please do so on the back of this page, indicating the number of the item on which you are commenting.  Please also use the back to give us any suggestions or comments you have on issues not covered above.
- I would like the hours of 8-4 rather than 9-5
- lot of downtime [referring to question 2]
- I've really enjoyed the workshop this week.  Thank you for your time.  I learned many things I can use in my room.
- I would like to thank both Paula and Ray for their enthusiasm and willingness to help all week long.  It has been a pleasure working with them.
- more time to share classroom techniques with each other.  How teachers handle different problems with labs in the classroom or different demos they use to show information or concepts.
- I feel comfortable now with using the inquiry-based approach.  I will work on designing labs that fit my time constraints and state standards.
- This was a wonderful workshop!  It helped to clarify what inquiry science is and is not.
- I was very frustrated on Monday.  I was intimidated by the finch lab.  I wasn't getting the "big" picture!  Paula and Ray, I loved your teaching style - "relaxed but informative."  I enjoyed this workshop more than the workshop in 2002!  My biggest suggestion - do the finch lab later, not first!  Thanks!!
- Instructors were excited and very helpful.  Tried to get us to think at a different level.
- Paula and Ray were great.  They know their stuff!  They were very helpful!