Active Learning in the Sciences

1. Active Learning in the Sciences • Carl J. Wenning, Physics Department • William Hunter, Chemistry Department • Cynthia Moore, Biological Sciences Department

2. “Experiential Learning” Charles DeGarmo John Dewey

3. Inquiry-Based Instruction • Four “centers” • Student • Knowledge • Assessment • Community • Teachers • Prepare situations under which students can learn • Guides to understanding

4. Assumptions of Active Learning • Understanding is more than knowing facts. • Students construct understanding from experience. • Students build on their current understanding. • Effective learning requires students to take responsibility for their own learning. • Knowledge transfer depends on how well students understanding what they have learned.

5. The Research Project • Find pinhole camera principles • White board results • Explain results • Find relationships between variables • Definitions: ho, hi, do, di

6. Groups • Group 1: • Find relationship between di and hi • Keep do fixed • ho is already fixed • Group 2: • Find relationship between do and hi • Keep di fixed • ho is already fixed

7. Relationships from Graphs • di = const * hi • do = const / hi • …