Prework

SESSION 3 

Session 3 Focus Question: How can we engage students in making sense of data and observations?

Prework

• Conduct the Spinach Leaf experiment part 2

• Watch the Lessons from Thin Air Video and respond to the forum post 

• Complete the Meta Moment

Post responses below to the following discussion forums:

• Lessons from Thin Air Video (watch excerpt from 3:17 - 17:48)

• As you watch the clip from the Minds of Our Own video think about the investigations we have done and the conversations about student thinking

• What are the implications of the information in the video on student thinking and sense making in the classroom?

• How is what you have experienced in this module so far similar to and different from how students usually learn about photosynthesis & cellular respiration?

When you are done, go back and comment on at least two of your colleagues' posts.

Session Agenda and Resources

• Opening

• Spinach Leaf experiment part 2 experimental results

  • Synthesis Jamboard

• Online Platform

  • Introduction to the Website

  • Modeling student/scientist interactions breakout

    • Teachers: Develop independent investigation question; post to project page

    • Scientists: What is good mentoring 1: Connecting, Motivating, Inspiring; respond to teachers on project page

• Characteristics of Testable Questions

• Personal Reflections

• Daily Survey

Asynchronous Tasks

TEAM TASKS:

Teachers

• Read the Introduction to Optional Plant Systems slides and reference the handouts below.

  • Algae Balls Protocol

  • Other Aquatic Plants

• Develop protocol for independent research investigations and complete the Explore, Research Question, Predictions and Experimental Design fields on your team's project page.

• Post regularly to scientists in the Updates section of the project page, respond to scientist feedback to improve protocol.

  • Read the mentor's post carefully.

  • Answer any questions the mentor asked.

  • Describe any recent developments.

  • Ask at least one question for the mentor to answer.

• Review Case Study and complete the Analysis
  You will find the link to the case study you are assigned on your team's update feed along with a link to the Analysis page.  Links to additional cases are also provided for comparison.

Scientists:

• Review your assigned Case Study and complete the Analysis
  You will find the link to the case study you are assigned on your team's update feed along with a link to the Analysis page.  Links to additional cases are also provided for comparison.
• Add comments to Goal 1 & Goal 2 on the "Roles and Goals" Jamboard
• Read through 4 sample mentor introductions on the "Mentor Introductions" Jamboard. Add a sticky note response for at least one of the four introductions: What did the mentor do to encourage connection with their team? What might you do differently? Add ideas to the last frame of the Jamboard: What could be added to an "effective mentor introductions" checklist for new mentors? 
• Outline/Plan your own introduction to customize for your student teams. This can be written in your notebook or electronically. You will want to refer to it during the Fall Session.  

• While the teachers on your team are working on their investigation:
  • If your team plans to meet at a specific time, you may log in to the Small Group Meeting Zoom with other scientists on your team to work in a separate breakout room if you wish. (You should NOT be in the same breakout room as your team teachers, however.)
     
  • Check every 15 minutes or so and respond to any messages left in the Updates feed by your teacher teammates.

INDIVIDUAL TASKS:

• Discussion Board Posts This link takes you directly to the Discussion Post page for Session 3

  • S3-Post #1: What alternative plant systems have you used or would you use for investigating photosynthesis and success levels (or not)? Post only - no responses required (15 min)

  • S3-Post #2: How might you adapt the guided investigations for your class? Post initial thoughts. Responses to colleagues are optional.

  • S3-Post #3 How might the Power of Sunlight Module fit into your curriculum? Post initial thoughts. Responses to colleagues are optional. 

Complete the Session Meta Moment (5 min)

• Reflect on today’s learning experiences in  your journal:

  • Revisit your initial response to the focus question: How do we engage students in making sense of data and observations?

  • What do you want to be sure to remember as you implement the module?

  • How did you learn it?

  • What did you learn?