Page 28 - EdViewptsSpring2021

Inquiry-Based Science in a

Pandemic

By Kevin Doyle, Ed.D., District Science Supervisor, Morris Hills Regional District

Keeping up with an ever- ence science takes time, patience, and The first suggested methodology is to
changing student body a little extra craftiness to cover all of the use virtual labs. A quick Google search
standards in the time provided.
will turn up many virtual labs. Some
demands us to reevaluate The National Research Council’s A are free, such as PhET, https://phet.
our strategies for teaching a Framework for K-12 Science Education: colorado.edu/, and others require a
site license for a fee. This format is the
laboratory-based course. Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and ultimate in social distancing as it allows
Core Ideas provides the basis for sci-
This is a challenge to accomplish in ence education in New Jersey (National students to work in groups without hav-
a typical school setting. Today, the Research Council, 2012). The Frame- ing to be near each other, much less in
challenge is even more significant in a work calls for students to be actively en- the same room. It is essential to know
socially-distanced school environment. gaged in scientific inquiry and practices. what outcomes you are looking for as
an educator when choosing a virtual lab
The effective teaching of science Traditionally, schools accomplish this format. It is strongly encouraged that
requires that students are actively when groups of students work together you work with your IT department when
engaged in science rather than listening to make observations and develop their picking a virtual lab provider. Virtual labs
and reading about science (Johnson, conclusions based on their laboratory only work if every student has access to
2007). Hands-on, inquiry-based experi- experiences. In a time of social distanc- a computer and the internet. At the start
ences that allow the students to explore ing, this is not possible. of the pandemic, New Jersey estimated
their curiosities and understandings of For our students to receive the sci- that over 230,000 students did not have
the world around them are the hallmark ence education they are entitled to, we equitable access to computers or WiFi
of a strong science program. Providing need to develop effective laboratory (Office of the Governor, 2020).
students with the opportunities to experi- methodologies.
Educational Viewpoints -26- Spring 2021