In-person – Summer Workshop – Morning Session: Leading Students Through Independent Investigations

This 5-day in-person workshop will be held Monday-Friday 8:00am-11:30am, July 24-28 on the University of North Carolina Asheville campus in Room 226 on the 2nd floor of Zeis Hall. The purpose of this session is to help teachers lead students through the scientific process in courses where students are expected to conduct their own experiments and data analysis using novel research questions. Participants in this workshop will perform several teacher-led preliminary investigations each day. Playing the role of the students, participants will use the curiosity these demonstrations stimulate to create additional experiments with similar laboratory or field techniques. We will flow through the steps from the initial idea to formulating a solid research question and then employ a peer review process to vet procedures before data collection begins. Teachers will come away with a large array of demonstrations to help students design their own investigations with a repeatable process to strengthen and sharpen student skills around experimental design. Although we will discuss the application of experimentation in the context of general, IB, AP, university, and NGSS science courses, teachers at all levels and from all subject areas are welcome. The afternoon session is an optional experience that complements the morning session. Participants are encouraged to enroll in both if desired or to spend the afternoon enjoying Asheville.