Helping Students Make Connections
March 2004
Science teachers want their students to attain scientific literacy for applications beyond the classroom. Unfortunately, many students view school, and especially school science, as disconnected from their lives and interests. Project-based science (PBS) is a powerful way to help students make connections between school science and the community. However, it can be difficult to enact in the high school classroom. As a result, the author developed a focus sheet to guide students through the complexity of PBS. This organizational tool provides students with parameters for the multiple tasks necessary to successfully accomplish the project.
Designing Project-Enhanced Environments
December 2005
The concept of waves is fundamental due to its occurrence throughout the natural world (e.g., water, sound, and electromagnetic waves). Because the concept occurs in so many places, high school students come to the classroom with prior knowledge and misconceptions about waves. This project-enhanced unit on sound waves incorporates technology and inquiry-based learning to address student misconceptions, foster content learning by all students, and gives students the freedom to choose a question to study in depth.