Theories/Approaches Narrative Notes

The Learning Cycle (5e)

Researcher(s) Connected Description

● The researcher connected to the ● In this article, Rodger W. Bybee discusses the
instructional model described in the article BSCS 5E instructional model, which comprises
is Rodger W. Bybee. five phases: Engagement, Exploration,
Explanation, Elaboration, and Evaluation. Bybee
emphasizes the importance of integrating 21st-
century skills into each phase of the model to
enhance science education. The model is designed
to facilitate active student engagement,
collaborative exploration, clear conceptual
explanations, skill application, and ongoing
evaluation, ultimately fostering deeper
understanding and competency in scientific
knowledge, attitudes, and skills.

Something Beneficial Gained How class would be organized/Restructured

● Through 5E teachers can cultivate critical ● This restructuring would involve facilitating
thinking, collaboration, and problem- active student participation, providing
solving abilities essential for students' opportunities for collaborative exploration, and
success in the modern world. integrating 21st-century skills development
throughout the learning process.

How would the approach be useful for What challenges exist?

teaching science? ● One challenge in implementing the 5E approach is
● The 5E approach is useful because it ensuring seamless integration of 21st-century
facilitates comprehensive and engaging skills throughout each phase, requiring careful
science instruction by systematically planning and alignment with curriculum
guiding students through phases of objectives.
exploration, explanation, and application,
fostering deeper understanding and skill
development.

Project-Based Learning (PBL)

Researcher(s) Connected Description

● The researchers connected to the article on ● Project-Based Learning (PBL) is an instructional

project-based learning are Genc , Homles method centered around hands-on, real-world
and Hwang, Boss, and Rogers, Cross, learning experiences. It integrates curriculum
Gresalfi, Trauth-Nare, & Buck. These standards with authentic problems to be solved,
researchers have contributed to fostering student ownership and engagement in
understanding the benefits and their learning. Students collaborate, utilize critical
implementation of project-based learning thinking and problem-solving skills, and employ
 in education. various learning tools such as communication and
technology to work on solutions to meaningful
challenges. PBL aims to promote intrinsic
motivation, enhance critical thinking skills, and
encourage peer learning among students.

Something Beneficial Gained How class would be organized/Restructured

● I learned that project-based learning ● The class would need to be restructured to

promotes intrinsic motivation. prioritize hands-on, real-world experiences where
students collaborate to solve authentic problems.

How would the approach be useful for What challenges exist?

teaching science? ● managing the time constraints and resources
● Project-based learning immerses students effectively, as well as assessing diverse student
in authentic scientific inquiry, promoting outcomes in a project-based environment
deeper understanding and engagement by
allowing them to apply scientific concepts
in real-world contexts.

Ecojustice/Place-based Education (PBE)

Researcher(s) Connected Description

Sarah Waters is the education and outreach ● Place-Based Education (PBE) is all about
coordinator at the Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary bringing the real world into the classroom. It
in Alpena, Michigan, Brandon Schroeder, a Sea connects students with their local environment,
Grant extension educator in Northeast Michigan tackling actual community issues while still
with Michigan State University Extension, and covering what we need to teach. PBE blends
Tracy D’Augustino, a science educator also with student success, environmental care, and
Michigan State University Extension. community involvement, giving students relevant
experiences that relate to their lives. With support
from our partners, like universities and local
groups, PBE helps us work closely with our
communities, offering professional development
for teachers and exciting projects for students. By
getting students involved in their surroundings,
PBE helps them become responsible citizens who
care about their communities.

Something Beneficial Gained How class would be organized/Restructured

● Learning that Place-Based Education ● The classroom would need to transition to a more
empowers students to become valued student-centered environment, fostering
partners in protecting their local collaboration, inquiry, and hands-on experiences
environments while enhancing their aligned with real-world problems.
academic learning.

How would the approach be useful for What challenges exist?

 teaching science? ● A Challenge in Project-Based Learning (PBL)
● Students will be able to develop a deeper include ensuring sufficient time for project
understanding of scientific principles completion.
through hands-on, inquiry-based
experiences.

Democratic Curriculum
Researcher(s) Connected Description

● The researchers and influential figures ● Democratic curriculum prioritizes student

connected to the history of the democratic engagement and active participation in decision-
curriculum include philosopher John making within the classroom. It emphasizes
Locke, Lev Tolstoy, Janusz Korczak, the equality, relevance, and autonomy in learning,
founders of Summerhill School and fostering critical thinking, moral development,
Sudbury School, and educators Michael and civic engagement. Democratic schools create
Apple and James Beane. These individuals environments where children have autonomy and
have contributed to the development of responsibility in their education. This approach
democratic education principles. prepares students to be active participants in
society, promoting inclusive and student-centered
educational practices worldwide.

Something Beneficial Gained How class would be organized/Restructured

● The article offered valuable perspectives to ● To accommodate a democratic curriculum, the

enhance student engagement and classroom would need to shift towards a student-
participatory learning in modern centered approach.
classrooms.

How would the approach be useful for What challenges exist?

teaching science? ● Students actively participating in decision-making
● The democratic curriculum approach can processes.
be valuable in teaching science by fostering
critical thinking, collaboration, and
problem-solving skills through student-led
inquiries.

STEAM
Researcher(s) Connected Description
 ● In a STEAM classroom, students play multiple
Charles Negre roles. They are learners, leaders, and
investigators, taking responsibility for their
learning, leading group activities, and
collaborating to solve puzzles and riddles. They're
encouraged to advocate for themselves and their
ideas, fostering a collaborative and supportive
environment.

Something Beneficial Gained How class would be organized/Restructured

● One important takeaway from the reading ● The physical space would ideally be flexible and
is that in a STEAM classroom, students are conducive to collaboration, with areas for group
empowered to take ownership of their work, hands-on activities, and access to various
learning and collaborate effectively in a materials and resources to support exploration and
student-centered environment. experimentation in science, technology,
engineering, arts, and mathematics.

How would the approach be useful for What challenges exist?

teaching science? ● Transitioning from traditional roles to facilitators
● It provides a holistic approach that fosters of student-centered learning, managing group
creativity and problem-solving skills dynamics, and relinquishing control over content
essential for scientific inquiry and delivery.
application.

Environmental Education

Researchers Connected Description

● Conde & Sánchez ● Environmental Education (EE) has revolutionized

● Payne science teaching by shifting the focus from
traditional lecture-based methods to more
constructivist approaches, integrating concepts
from E-STEM and STEAM. This evolution
emphasizes inquiry-based learning,
interdisciplinary connections, and citizen science
initiatives, empowering students to take
ownership of environmental issues and engage in
collaborative problem-solving. EE encourages
students to draw on personal experiences,
confront differing opinions, and develop critical
thinking skills, ultimately transforming the way
science is taught by promoting active engagement
and real-world application of scientific concepts.
Something Beneficial Gained How class would be organized/Restructured

● Environmental Education can foster ● Classrooms would need to be restructured to

interdisciplinary connections, critical incorporate more hands-on, inquiry-based
thinking, and real-world problem-solving activities, utilize technology for citizen science
skills among students. projects, and encourage collaboration with
community organizations to address
environmental issues effectively.

How would the approach be useful for What challenges exist?

teaching science? ● One challenge is ensuring that students develop a
● It would engaging students in real-world comprehensive understanding for the standard.
environmental issues, fostering critical
thinking and problem-solving skills, and
promoting active participation in scientific
inquiry through citizen science projects.

Argumentation

Researcher(s) Connected Description

● The researchers who contributed to the Description

exploration of argumentation in science ●
education include Wegerif (2007), Argumentation involves a structured and rational
Golanics & Nussbaum (2008), Ford (2008), discourse aimed at establishing relationships
Berland & Reiser (2009), Osborne & between ideas and evidence, with the goal of
Patterson (2011), Driver, Newton, & developing, evaluating, and validating scientific
Osborne (2000), Jimenez-Aleixandre, knowledge. It entails making claims supported by
Rodriguez, & Duschl (2000), Zohar & evidence, engaging in critical thinking, and
Nemet (2002), Kelly & Takao (2002), constructing arguments that justify one's position
Erduran, Simon, & Osborne (2004), while also considering and challenging opposing
Venvill & Dawson (2010), Kaya, Erduran, viewpoints. This process is essential for fostering
& Cetin (2012), Sampson & Clark (2009), higher-order thinking skills, improving
von Aufschnaiter, Erduran, Osborne, & conceptual understanding, and encouraging
Simon (2008), Jimenez-Aleixandre & collaborative reasoning among students,
Pereiro-Munhoz (2002), Nussbaum & ultimately preparing them to engage in scientific
Sinatra (2003), and Faize (2015), among inquiry and decision-making.
others.

Something Beneficial Gained How class would be organized/Restructured

● It was beneficial to learn the aspect of ● Class organization for argumentation would
argumentation in science education, involve creating a stimulating learning
emphasizing its role in improving environment conducive to problem-based or
conceptual understanding, project-based learning.

How would the approach be useful for What challenges exist?

teaching science? ● Challenges with argumentation include students'
● Argumentation helps students develop lack of prior knowledge and confrontational
critical thinking skills. situations arising from differing beliefs.
Inquiry

Researcher(s) Connected Description

The researchers connected to inquiry-based ● Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) is an approach

learning include Piaget, whose theory of play- centered on students' questions, allowing them to
based learning laid the foundation for IBL, as well lead the lessons by searching for answers through
as educational scholars like Johnson and Zambak, investigation and research, thus fostering natural
who have contributed to understanding its curiosity and engagement in the learning process.
implementation and significance in education.

Something Beneficial Gained How class would be organized/Restructured

● Inquiry-Based Learning allows students to ● A shift from traditional teacher-led instruction to

lead their own learning through exploration a student-centered approach where students are
and questioning. encouraged to ask questions, explore topics of
interest, collaborate with peers, conduct research
would be nessasary for an IBL classroom.

How would the approach be useful for What challenges exist?

teaching science? ● One challenge with inquiry-based learning is
● IBL fosters students' natural curiosity, managing diverse student inquiries and ensuring
encourages active engagement in the each student receives support.
learning process, promotes critical thinking
skills, and allows students to explore
scientific concepts