Learner Diversity and Investigative Study
2010/10/14
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Learner Diversity
Learning stylesIndividual students tend to learn more readily some ways than othersIndividual teachers tend to teach in ways that complement their own learning styles
Cognitive developmentConcrete / Formal reasoning ability
MisconceptionsPrior / Alternative conceptions
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Investigative Study
It refers to the creation of a classroom where students are engaged in (essentially) open-ended, student-centered, hands-on activities. This means that students must make at least some decisions about what they are doing and what their work means—thinking along the way.
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Tasks Make a Difference
Task ADraw a circle of radius 10 cm using a blue
ball pen
Task BDraw a circle
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Measurement of Friction
Items Description
Question Measure the coefficient of sliding friction between two surfaces
Method Using a ramp and measuring its inclination
Materials A flat board, a wooden block, a metre
rule
Data Length (A) and (B)
Procedure Measure the height (A) and length (B) of the inclination
Solution Coefficient of friction between the surfaces: μ
= A / B
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Level of InquiryLevel (1) (2) (3 ) (4)
Question
Method
Solution (Conclusion)
Michael E. Fay and Stacey Lowery Bretz, 2008, Structuring the Level of Inquiry in Our Classroom, The Science Teacher, Vol.75(5), p.38-42
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Student Independence Lowest Highest
Inquiry Level
(4)
(3)
(2)
(1)
September June
Different Paths
A
B
C
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Time
NSS Physics CurriculumCompulsory PartI.
Heat and Gases
25 hoursII.
Force and Motion
55 hoursUnderstand friction as a force opposing motion/tendency of motion
III.
Wave Motion
48 hoursIV.
Electricity and Magnetism
56 hoursV.
Radioactivity and Nuclear Energy
16 hours
Elective Part (Any 2 out of 4)V.
Astronomy and Space Science
27 hoursVI.
Atomic World
27 hoursVII.
Energy and Use of Energy
27 hoursVIII
.
Medical Physics
27 hours
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Sliding Friction
Design an investigation to answer the question: What factors affect (sliding) friction ?
Develop each component of the investigation including a hypothesis, procedures, data analysis, and conclusions
TheoryThe force of sliding friction Ff is proportional to the force perpendicular to the surface F⊥ (i.e. Ff = μF⊥)
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F⊥
Mg
Standard Experiments
1.
Pulling a body over a plane surface at constant speed
2.
Finding the angle of an inclined plane down which a body slides at constant speed
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A School Example
1.
Free to choose electives (3 X)Limited report writing experience in F.2Command of English is fairMotivation to learn is fair
2.
Class size: 40 (10 groups of size 4)Boys from 5 different classes
3.
Large individual differenceRanking from 21 - 164 in F.3
4 students in top rank < 4015 students in bottom rank >140
4.
∼15 students do not take extension in Math
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Time Schedule
Stage I
Planning
Stage II
Implementation
Stage III
Report
1.
Question -
Introduce task
2.
Method -
Conduct experiment
3.
Solution -
Write report
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Proposal
Group Factor to be investigated Independent variable
1 Nature of surface Nature of surface
2 Mass Mass / surface
3 Inclination of mass Angle of inclination / mass
4 Magnitude of applied force Applied force
5 Length of string used to pull the object Length of string
6 Materials (nature of surface?)
7 Nature of surface Applied force
8 Inclined slope Angle of inclination
9 Surface area of the object Contact surface area
10 Mass Mass of object
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Proposed Factors
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Proposed Factors
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Assessment Of Learning
Summative Perspective:1.
Teach a chapter
2.
Ask students to have revision
3.
Quiz /assignment4.
Mark quiz /assignment
L & T process
Assessthe learning outcome
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Assessment For Learning
Formative Perspective:1. Construct a topic2. Plan a problem solving
procedure3. Carry out the procedure4. Record data5. Analysis6. Drawing conclusion7. Report writing
Modify, refine
All are L&T process !
It is possible to assess for learning in every stages !
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Feedback
Stage I
Planning
1.
Introduce task Refine the task
Student Teacher
Plan, modify
Written/spoken Feedback
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Procedure / Method
Factor -
Mass
Newton’s 2nd law :
F – fL = 0, F is the applied force acting on the object, which is equal to friction
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Feedback
Stage II
Implementation2.
Experiment Refine the
procedure
Student TeacherRespond and answer
Raise questions
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DialogueT: What’re the factors?
S: MassT: How to measure friction?
S: Use spring balanceT: Do you mean that the reading of spring balance equals to friction?
S: I’ll take the reading when the object accelerates.T: Newton’s 2nd
law said when it accelerates, there is net force acting on it.
What’s the net force acting on the object ?S: Applied force plus friction
T: Does the spring balance measure the net force or applied force or friction?S: Net force
T: How do you know the object is accelerated
or at constant speed?S: ...
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DialogueT: What’s the factor that you’re going to study?
S: inclinationT: How to measure friction?
S: Use inclination and count the time down the slopeT: What’s the relationship between “time”
& “friction”?
S: s = ut + ½ at2 ?T: Where’s the “friction”?
S: F = ma ?T: What’s the meaning of “F”
and “m”
in this equation?
S: F is net force and m is mass of the object.T: What is the net force
acting on the object along the inclined plane?
S : Draw a diagram to show all the forces acting on the bodyT: How do you know there is a net
force
acting on it?
S: ...
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Feedback
Stage III
Report3.
Do report
Student Teacher
Submit report
Written/spoken feedback
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Sample ReportGp Factor to study Method of measuring friction
1 Nature of surface Applying fixed weights
Newton’s 2nd law :
F – fL = 0
F is the applied force acting on the object, which is equal to friction
Tension = applied force= weight
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Gp Factor to study Method of measuring friction
7 Nature of surface Time of an object sliding down an incline
Different surface as the incline
Sample Report
Sample ReportGp Factor to study Method of measuring friction
7 Nature of surface Time of an object sliding down an incline
Take average toMinimize random error
Equation of motion Applied Newton’s 2nd Law of motion
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Sample ReportGp Factor to study Method of measuring friction
5 Length of string used to pull the object
Pull by spring balance
Newton’s 2nd law :
F – f = 0
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Sample ReportGp Factor to study Method of measuring friction
5 Length of string used to pull the object
Pull by spring balance
•Trial and error
•Observe and refine the procedure
•Critical on the hypothesis
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Sample Report
Is it a poor design?
•Refine set-up >5 times (before, during and after experiment)
•The set-up keeps on improving based on more understanding about stopping distance
•Never give up
Gp Factor to study
Method of measuring friction
4 Magnitude of Applied force
Stopping distance
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Sample ReportGp Factor to
studyMethod of measuring friction
4 Magnitude of Applied force
Stopping distance
• Data points too small
• Poor table present
• Poor scale
• No calculation
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Transformative Open-ended inquiryStudent/Teacher is partner
Generative Structured/Guided inquiryStudent construct knowledge
TransmissionClosed-ended inquiryPrescriptive learning
Wink, J. (1997)
Sample Report
Thank you
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