Learning by Inquiry/Explanation/Model-Building

web-based inquiry science education (WIS by Learning by Inquiry/Explanation/Model-Building on Notaweb-based inquiry science education (WISE)WISE is a free online-based science learning environment that promotes learning by inquiry. The WISE environment provides scaffolding that guides students through scientific controversies and encourages students to think critically by designing, debating, and critiquing solutions. According to the site, students "examine real world evidence and analyze current scientific controversies."WISE guides students through a lesson plan by providing background information on a topic and engaging the students with questions that prompt reflection on the information provided. Students then explore the topic further using causal modeling and simulations. Throughout the process of discovery, students record their learning in journals that pop up throughout the curriculum in order for students to organize their thoughts and reflect on their learning. In addition to the journals, students can also engage in discussion and collaboration with each other. homeExample: Monarch Butterfly, At Risk?In the Monarch Butterfly activity, students go through the following steps:1. Read about the Monarch butterfly and determine if there is a risk as a result of changes to the environment2. Evaluate pieces of evidence and determine how valid the evidence is.3. Find other pieces of evidence4. Share your results with your classmatesThe activities allow the students to do more than just read information about butterflies and the environmental risks. By posing the activity as a controversy, the students can become more engaged. They get to be critical and come up with their own conclusions based on evidence. Additionally, having the students search for and come up with their own evidence allows them to think critically about the information they find on the Internet and ask questions about the data they come across. While this isn't inquiry learning in the sense that the questions are all student posed, the environment constructs learning such that students are constantly calling into question the ideas that are being posed. Teachers can build their own environments in WISE so that they can address questions that are directly relevant to students' lives.One addition that could be made to WISE to make it more closely aligned with learning by inquiry is to use WISE in conjunction with more hands-on activities away from the online environment. Students could use the structure of WISE but go out into the "field" to collect evidence for or against a scientific controversy and bring it back to the WISE environment to reflect and share their findings."In WISE, inquiry instruction involves engaging students in the intentional process of diagnosing problems, critiquing experiments, distinguishing alternatives, planning investigations, researching conjectures, searching for instruction, constructing models, debating with peers, and forming coherent arguments" - Marcia Linn, Meaningful Learning Using Technology(Enable JavaScript in your browser, please.)