Deborah Bronner
Mount Saint Mary's University
CA

PD Pathways: Have a Kids Inquiry Conference

Sat, Feb 02, 2019 8:27 PM
A Kids Inquiry Conference

Paula A. Magee, a clinical associate professor at Indiana University and Ryan Flessner, an assistant professor at Butler University in Indianapolis co-authored an article in which they presented a concept that is an alternative to a science fair. The KIC (Kids Inquiry Conference) is a concept that more closely aligned with the way that scientists share their ideas. A science fair typically requires students to follow a step-by-step experimental process in which they construct a hypothesis, collect data to support or disprove the hypothesis. Often the science fair includes prizes that are awarded to students for their projects. The KIC has a format that more closely tracks a professional science conference. In a KIC, students are encouraged to develop their own inquiry projects, carry out the projects using an inquiry-based model and prepare for a presentation. Participating in a KIC offers teachers a powerful professional development experience. At a professional science conference, scientists share their work, including work in progress, which provides the opportunity to obtain feedback from peers. The atmosphere is not competitive. The authors credit W. Saul, D. Dieckman and C. Pearce with creating the idea of the KIC in a 2005 article. The article details the ways to initiate and plan the process, with examples of projects, community involvement, a sample schedule as well as a section of what was learned from organizing a KIC. The article presents a valuable concept with a significant details of how to implement it.

PD Pathways: Have a Kids Inquiry Conference

Sat, Feb 02, 2019 8:26 PM
A Kid's Inquiry Conference

Paula A. Magee, a clinical associate professor at Indiana University and Ryan Flessner, an assistant professor at Butler University in Indianapolis co-authored an article in which they presented a concept that is an alternative to a science fair. The KIC (Kids Inquiry Conference) is a concept that more closely aligned with the way that scientists share their ideas. A science fair typically requires students to follow a step-by-step experimental process in which they construct a hypothesis, collect data to support or disprove the hypothesis. Often the science fair includes prizes that are awarded to students for their projects. The KIC has a format that more closely tracks a professional science conference. In a KIC, students are encouraged to develop their own inquiry projects, carry out the projects using an inquiry-based model and prepare for a presentation. Participating in a KIC offers teachers a powerful professional development experience. At a professional science conference, scientists share their work, including work in progress, which provides the opportunity to obtain feedback from peers. The atmosphere is not competitive. The authors credit W. Saul, D. Dieckman and C. Pearce with creating the idea of the KIC in a 2005 article. The article details the ways to initiate and plan the process, with examples of projects, community involvement, a sample schedule as well as a section of what was learned from organizing a KIC. The article presents a valuable concept with a significant details of how to implement it.

PD Pathways: Have a Kids Inquiry Conference

Sat, Feb 02, 2019 8:26 PM
A Kid's Inquiry Conference

Paula A. Magee, a clinical associate professor at Indiana University and Ryan Flessner, an assistant professor at Butler University in Indianapolis co-authored an article in which they presented a concept that is an alternative to a science fair. The KIC (Kids Inquiry Conference) is a concept that more closely aligned with the way that scientists share their ideas. A science fair typically requires students to follow a step-by-step experimental process in which they construct a hypothesis, collect data to support or disprove the hypothesis. Often the science fair includes prizes that are awarded to students for their projects. The KIC has a format that more closely tracks a professional science conference. In a KIC, students are encouraged to develop their own inquiry projects, carry out the projects using an inquiry-based model and prepare for a presentation. Participating in a KIC offers teachers a powerful professional development experience. At a professional science conference, scientists share their work, including work in progress, which provides the opportunity to obtain feedback from peers. The atmosphere is not competitive. The authors credit W. Saul, D. Dieckman and C. Pearce with creating the idea of the KIC in a 2005 article. The article details the ways to initiate and plan the process, with examples of projects, community involvement, a sample schedule as well as a section of what was learned from organizing a KIC. The article presents a valuable concept with a significant details of how to implement it.