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Everday Assessment in the Science Classroom

Chapter 5: Assessment of Inquiry by Richard A. Duschi

The focus on scientific inquiry needs to be on attainment of evidence and how it is used to generate and justify explanations.

Synthesize the research:

1.       The incorporation and assessment of Scientific Inquiry  in educational contexts need to form 3 integrated domains:

• The conceptual structures and cognitive processes used when reasoning scientifically.
• The epistemic framework used when developing and evaluating scientific knowledge and
• The social processes and forums that shape how knowledge is communicated, represented, argued and debated.

2.       The conditions for science inquiry learning and assessment improve through the establishment of:

• Learning environments that promote student-centered learning
• Instructional sequences that promote integrating science learning across each of the 3 domains listed above
• Activities and tasks that make the students’ thinking visible in each of the 3 domains and
• Teacher designated assessment practices that monitor learning and provide feedback on thinking and learning in each of the 3 domains