Session 8 Learning and Teaching Science with Inscriptions

1. Session 8Learning and Teaching Science with Inscriptions Richard Lehrer & Leona Schauble

2. Let’s start with a Video Clip… • Goal: Connect Inscriptions and Preconceptions in Science • Question: • Why are inscriptions not successful at changing preconceptions in this case?

3. What this video shows is that… • Inscriptions may create misconceptions • Inscriptions do not automatically change students’ misconceptions (or knowledge) • Students tend to hold on to their misconceptions (prior knowledge) • Addressing misconceptions ≠ simply asking “what do you know about…” • Using inscriptions ≠ presenting a graph in your lesson

4. 5 Powerful ideas in Lehrer & Schauble’s reading • Inscriptions as a Learner-centered approach to Math & Science Alex VP, Katie, Alex H, Natalie, Annie

5. 5 Powerful ideas in Lehrer & Schauble’s reading • Thought and Inscription reciprocally develop Alcia, Elysia, Brittany, Katherine, Prim Bootstrapping: “to lift oneself up by one’s own bootstraps”

6. 5 Powerful ideas in Lehrer & Schauble’s reading (cont.) • Inscriptions are not a “chore” Emily Misconceptions: • Inscriptions are Visual Aids • We are effectively using inscriptions if we just present students with different graphs X

7. 5 Powerful ideas in Lehrer & Schauble’s reading (cont.) In order for Inscriptions to foster inquiry: Ashley • Always begin with a question (problem) • Ask students to createand evaluate inscriptions to solve problem

8. 5 Powerful ideas in Lehrer & Schauble’s reading (cont.) • Inscriptions describe things that we cannot see Daniel, Kit

9. 5 Powerful ideas in Lehrer & Schauble’s reading (cont.) • Inscriptions are communicative Diana • Use social interaction to: • Make problem-solving meaningful • Create inscriptions • Evaluate inscriptions

10. Some of your Questions • Are inscriptions naturally outgrowths of children’s play or does the very concept need to be taught? Sarah • We are socialized since born to inscriptions- • We slowly learn that inscriptions re-present rather than present • What do teachers do if students don’t ask smart questions? Dana, Jen • Ground inscriptions on a problem

11. Difficult Questions… • How can this theory be applied to English or History? Beth • What about blind children? Jarrad

12. What are inscriptions? • Latour: French sociologist of science • Inscriptions are…. Symbolic tools • Represent aspects of world • Communicate information to others • Examples: diagrams, maps, models, mathematical expressions, read-outs of instruments, etc.