When I first saw the topic of generating and testing hypothesis my mind automatically went to scientific method and I was curious as to how this was going to fit into this week’s assignments. I read the first sentence and realized I was wrong. In the book Using Technology with classroom instruction that works, it states that “when students generate and test hypotheses, they are engaging in complex mental processes, applying content knowledge” (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007) in all subject areas. When applying generating and testing hypotheses in the classroom it is important to “make sure students can explain their hypotheses and conclusions, as well as teachers need to use a variety of tasks to guide students through generating and testing hypotheses” (Pitler et al., 2007).
Students being able to generate and test hypotheses allow students to be creative in trying to figure out a possible solution to the problem given in front of them. When they generate a hypotheses it allows each student to “construct his/her own meaning” (Orey, 2009), which is a characteristic of constructivism, there is no absolute. Once the student has come up with their own ideas and solutions, it is time for the student to test their hypothesis. With the development in “probeware and interactive applets, allow students to spend more time interpreting data rather than gathering the data” (Pitler et al., 2007). The use of various web resources makes is easy and interactive for students to generate and test hypotheses on a particular subject area and they are also able to see the “outcome of their hypotheses in virtual situations that would be impossible or financially unfeasible in real life” (Pitler et al., 2007). Using the following: spreadsheet software, data collection tools, and web resources students are able to generate and test hypotheses easier and are more engaged because they are not having to gather all the information which can be “tedious and error prone” (Pitler et al., 2007) for students.
References:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Constructionist and Constructivist
Learning Theory.[Motion Picture]. Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology.
Baltimore: Author
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom
instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
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I was just like you! I said the exact same thing about only thinking a hypothesis aws related to science. My class has become very creative. They can come up with a hypothesis for a lot of topics. Do you think you can encourage your students to do this in your class?
ReplyDeleteWell it is a little hard becuase of the subject I teach which is physical education, you have any ideas?
ReplyDeleteJust to expand a little on what you and Becky started talking about because I was going to ask you the same thing. I coach junior high basketball and it is very much a "teaching" year for the girls. Sometimes what I do to make them think about what might happen is to ask them to think about where the best place to stand to get a rebound is when a shot is taken from the wing lets say. Then after we talk about different possibilities we'll shoot from different spots so the girls can actually see what the best rebounding position is.
ReplyDeleteTiffany
As a pe teacher and middle school basketball coach, I thought I would jump into this conversation also. One of the most difficult things for me is to come up with how I will use all we are learning in my pe classes. Do you feel the same way Jennifer? What I have found is if I really think about it I usually find some way I am incorporating it in my class. One way I am using hypothesis and testing that hypothesis is with the use of heart rate monitors. Before we begin an activity I will ask the students what they think will happen to their heart rate as a result of their participating in the activity. After the activity is completed we will discuss what happened to their heart rate and why it reacted the way it did. In basketball, I also use the rebounding teaching technique that Tiffany spoke of. In both cases, the use of developing a hypothesis and then testing it is used to construct the students/players knowledge. They learn much more by experiencing it than they would if I just told them about it.
ReplyDeleteTerri
While I'm not a PE teacher, I know that so much of what you do is based in science, so it seems very appropriate that you immediately saw the scientific connection!
ReplyDeleteYou might also be able to use this process and strategy when you are teaching and discussing sportsmanship or rules of an activity. Students could use the strategy to hypothesize about the outcomes in an activity when someone exhibits poor sportsmanship or breaks an activity/game rule.
Julie