When is Inquiry Problem
Solving and When is Problem
Solving Inquiry?
Panelists: Marcia Fetters, Western Michigan University,
Caroline Beller, University of Arkansas, Paul Hickman,
Northeastern University
Questions to ponder…
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Inquiry is ….
Inquiry is Not …
Problem solving is …..
Problem solving is Not …
Talk to your neighbor!
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What are the similarities and differences
between these terms?
Offer a definition of each term?
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Inquiry
Problem Solving
What prompted the exploration?
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PhysTEC 3rd annual meeting: Audience of
Physicists; Physics educators, Science
educators; and Teachers-in-Residence (mostly
high school physics teachers)
Same language used, but clear (for some of us)
that different meanings and applications used
for key terms such as: Inquiry; problem
solving; cooperative learning; evidence;
research; concept; laboratory work; etc..
Context and Quandary
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Audience energy was around building
connections and community so differences in
language were not addressed
(congeniality/collegiality environment
dichotomy).
Was this mismatch real and is it critical to
collaborative efforts between education and
content specialists or is it just the nature of
large collaboratives and does not influence the
work and progress of reform?
Context/Historical Perspective
If a single word had to be chosen to
describe the goals of science education
during the 30-year period that began in
the late 1950s, it would have to be
inquiry (DeBoer, 1991, p. 206).
Methodology
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Started collection of personal definitions of
problem solving and inquiry from a range of
audiences and sources: undergraduate science
students, elementary education students,
secondary science education students, middle
grades science education students, physics
faculty, science education faculty,
Lit. Review of common definitions collected.
Asked AETS members to judge statements.
Our challenge to you…
Given the statements around the room -how would you categorize these
statements?
 red – problem solving;
 green – inquiry;
 yellow – neither;
 blue – problem solving and inquiry
Statement Intent &
Interpretations
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First slide of each set -Authors intent
Second slide of each set - AETS member
interpretation.
Statement #1
The process of starting from your own
observations to develop an understanding of
a concept. The most open [kind of this…]
_____ would start out with deciding what
concept you wanted to explore. To ask a
question: to figure out what observation you
need to make to answer the question, to
interpret your observations to create models
that not only explain what you saw but
predicted something else you might see.
Inquiry
Scientist
Statement #1
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AETS
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PhysTEC
Statement #2
_____ is the curiosity of the mind in action.
The ability to question...
Inquiry
MS Education Major
Statement #2
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AETS
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PhysTEC
Statement #3
Addressing a situation, occasionally having
to determine what the outcome needs to
be, but usually with that defined, and
determining how to achieve that
outcome. This usually involves
comparing the situation to previous
experiences, identifying similarities and
differences.
Problem Solving
Scientist
Statement #3
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AETS
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PhysTEC
Statement #4
Using whatever tools one knows how to use
in order to implement a solution to a
given hypothesis.
Problem Solving
MS Education Major
Statement #4
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AETS
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PhysTEC
Statement #5
When you look into something. You take
time out to examine something or learn
about it.
Inquiry
Elem. Education Major
Statement #5
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AETS
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PhysTEC
Statement #6
Exploring some event or idea and trying to
understand it.
Inquiry
Physics Major
Statement #6
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AETS
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PhysTEC
Statement #7
_________ as a teaching strategy embodies
most of the techniques and learning
skills science educators consider
important when learning science by
investigative methods.
Problem Solving
Science Educator (Methods Text)
Statement #7
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AETS
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PhysTEC
Statement #8
To take a systematic approach to a task.
Problem Solving
Elem. Education Major
Statement #8
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AETS
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PhysTEC
Statement #9
Trying to fix something, or some situation.
Problem Solving
Biology Major
Statement #9
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AETS
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PhysTEC
Statement # 10
Doing hands on things. Getting messy in
science.
Inquiry
Geology Major
Statement #10
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AETS
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PhysTEC
Statement #11
In school science, _________ refers to how
students attempt to develop knowledge
and understanding of scientific ideas.
Through activities, students learn how
scientists go about studying the world,
communicate with one another, and,
through consensus, propose explanations
for how the world works.
Inquiry
Science Educator (Methods Text)
Statement #11
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AETS
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PhysTEC
Statement #12
_____ is taking systematic approach to
exploring something.
Problem Solving
Geology Major
Statement #12
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AETS
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PhysTEC
From the literature….
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Oxford English Dictionary
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Inquiry 1.a The act of seeking, esp.. (not always)
for truth, knowledge, or information concerning
something; search, research, investigation,
examination.
attrib. and Comb., as ….. problem-solver, one who
finds solutions to difficult or perplexing questions or
situations; hence problem-solving n., the action of
finding solutions to such problems;
From NSES
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National Science Education Standards -Pg 23
Inquiry is a multifaceted activity that involves making
observations; posing questions; examining books and
other sources of information to see what is already
known; planning investigations; reviewing what is
already known in light of experimental evidence;
using tools to gather, analyze, and interpret data;
proposing answers, explanations, and predictions;
and communicating the results. Inquiry requires
identification of assumptions, use of critical and
logical thinking, and consideration of alternative
explanations.
From a Methods Text…
Problem solving is also an important strategy
for constructing and negotiating meaning.
Learning to Teach Science: A model for the 21st Century(J. V.
Ebenezer & S. Connor; 1998) pg. 140-141
Methods text.. continued
In general, inquiry is finding out about
something. It centers around the desire to
answer a question or to know more about a
situation.
Science Instruction in the Middle and Secondary Schools
(Chiapetta, E. L. and Koballa, Thomas R.; 2002) pg 91
Documentation of quandary…
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Problem solving is often used
synonymously with inquiry and science
process skill reasoning (Helgeson, 1989,
1994).
Implications in Science Education
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Shared language – differences between
disciplines in how terminology is used as part of
pedagogy and content for:
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Arts and Sciences and Education
Pre-service and Faculty
Teachers and K-12 students
Implications for instruction in content courses;
education courses and K-12 settings
Reform Efforts
Implications for how language is used in relation
to state and/or national testing
Questions to be pondered…
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Does the difference in how people use these terms
create a real barrier to collaboration or does it
provide a platform for conversation that
facilitates the collaboration?
If the difference is real and significant what effect
does it have on programs and reform efforts that
call for collaboration across audiences?
How can or when should discussion about the
difference occur to maximize the potential of
reform efforts? How do you do this without
jeopardizing the partnerships?
Next Steps
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Challenge to audience – Would any one like to join us in
gathering additional definitions?
What other words/phrases have shared meanings?
What other words/phrases to we use as a project that
should be examined in this way?
Is there a difference between disciplines (i.e. biology,
chemistry, physics, earth science, mathematics)? Our
sample is currently small and these distinctions cannot be
made with current data.
What is the role of past experiences of participants?
Prior science courses and experiences…