1. Case study, resources, ideas and
practice to bring Inquiry-based Polar
Sciences into Italian classrooms
M. Macario1, C. Invernizzi1, E. Paris1, F.Talarico2
22 oct. 2013
1- University of Camerino – Scuola di Scienze e Tecnologia – Sezione di Geologia
2- University of Siena - Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell'Ambiente

2. project’s goals
“The cryosphere is thus a fundamental control on
• bringing Polar Sciences closer to School
the physical, biological and social environment over
a large part of the Earth’s surface. Given that all its
components are inherently sensitive to temperature
change over a wide range of timescales, the
cryosphere is a natural integrator of climate
variability and provides some of the most visible
signatures of climate change.” (IPPC, chapt. 4, 2013)
.

3. project’s goals
“IBSE allows for the development of crucial intellectual
•
implementing Inquiry Based Science Education
skills in addition to knowledge acquisition, the basis
through real scientific data coming from the research world
for all types of higher level of education.”
Rocard Report, 2007

4. project’s goals
designing and producing a teaching tool
package
•
including full teaching modules
•
easily portable in the classroom

5. Starting from a case study...
Austral summer 2006/07
- recovered a seafloor sediments core from McMurdo
Sound (Ross Sea – Antarctica)

6. ... to the core ideas...
DRIVING QUESTIONS
- Why are Polar Regions so important for climatic equilibria of
Earth System?
- Which clues about Earth's past can we find in Polar Regions?
?
- How can we elaborate this information in order to understand
how climate can change?
sediments core 1285 m long
corresponding to 13 Ma (middle Miocene)
our study only first 200 m
 2,6 Ma (Pleistocene = glaciations)

7. ... to the teaching modules...
•
•
•
•
•
•
case study
investigable questions
guide to the activity
opinions and hypothesis
final results
suggestion for the report
lab procedure
master worksheet
explanation
•
•
•
•
•
basic information about the topics
links to video-labs and video-lessons
links and reference to further
investigation
guide to the hands on
observations
•
•
•
master-sheet
documents
my experiments
collecting and elaborating data
alternative explanations
evidence related to the experiment
my explanations
outcome
•
Other case studies to extend the
knowledge
*(Bybee, 2006)

8. ... to the teaching modules...
•
•
•
•
•
•
case study
investigable questions
guide to the activity
opinions and hypothesis
final results
suggestion for the report
master worksheet
•
•
•
•
•
basic information about the topics
links to video-labs and video-lessons
links and reference to further
investigation
guide to the hands on
observations
•
•
•
documents
my experiments
collecting and elaborating data
alternative explanations
evidence related to the experiment
my explanations
outcome
•
Other case studies to extend the
knowledge
*(Bybee, 2006)

9. ... topics...
Adventure to Earth’s Poles
Energy from the Sun
The magic substance, H2O
Ice power
When polar ice melts...
Thermal “shield”
Earth’s cover
Oceans in motion
Clues about Earth’s past
Oxygen, foraminifera and climate:
unexpected connections
Antarctica and the secrets of climate

10. ... Media...
Lab Video-clips
subtitled version and “naked” version for not-Italian speakers

11. ... Media...
Smart Board Lessons
student-centred

12. ... Media...
Mini video-lectures
flipped classroom strategy

13. App CLAST –Apple Store
presented to EGU assembly 2013

14. ...peer review...
Students at inquiring work
Teachers training
blended course
20 teachers from IC “Primo Levi” from Prato

15. ORGANIZZAZIONE
2
Serie1
1
Serie2
0
Serie3
7-individuare leggi che…
6- forumulare ipotesi
5- scrivere spiegazioni…
4- Svolgere esercizi
3- rispondere a…
2- tenere un diario
1- rilevare dati
GLI STUDENTI SONO…
L'attività richiede l'uso…
L'attività richiede l'uso…
L'attività richiede l'uso…
L'attività richiede…
Nell'attività vi è una…
Nell'attività vi è una…
METODI E STRUMENTI
Sono proposti…
Elementi di astrazione…
I contenuti scientifici…
Gli studenti sono…
I conentuti forniti…
I contenuti scientifici…
I contenuti scientifici…
CONTENUTI
5- evaluate
4- explain
3-elaborate
2- explore
1- Engage
SVILUPPO ATTIVITÀ IBSE
L'attività concede…
L'attività concede…
L'attività incoraggia un…
Le risorse disponibili in…
Le strategie didattiche…
L'attività è stata…
L'attività necessità di…
Le finalità dell'attività …
ID card
Adventure to Earth’s Poles
6
5
4
3
Serie4
Serie5

16. Teaching modules and media
will be downloadable for free
http://www.unicam.it/geologia/unicamearth/
maddalena.macario@gmail.com

17. “Every day some new fact comes to light.
I suppose this is the reason which makes the game
so well worth playing”.
(Capt. Robert Falcon Scott)
maddalena.macario@unicam

18. Stay tuned!
Just a
question...
?
?
?
?
maddalena.macario@unicam
Thank you for listening
Maddalena Macario