IO Inquiry Projects

What we liked...

Loved the Mutant Nation project, very engaging topic
Assessment rubrics that require students to justify their reasoning
Voxopop as a way for students to receive/submit verbal feedback
Project overview can be a great way to really grab students attention, draw them in
Strong cross-curricular connections
Got students to really role-play, very believable
Peer review is of great value
Authenticity
Student choices



Feedback:

"Pendulum isn't just a pendulum anymore, its so much more"
"Liked the history as a way to make the science real and contextual"
"Made students consider how science exists; i.e a real science lab isn't just fill in the blank"

Are students expected to present results once the project is completed. For those that chose to complete a written report-- would they also be expected to present?
Perhaps every group could complete a written report and an oral presentation (depending on time?)
This project covers many Science topics in interesting and creative ways! In high school curriculum is there any other connections not included under the "Science Umbrella"? Some were touched upon in the introduction i.e. History/explorers/geography. Could these be expanded upon?
These activities would help with understanding the subject matter, rather than simple regurgitation of formulas. We really liked that students would have to "figure it out for themselves" rather than being told.

How do you make this engage this to individual students? How do you differentiate instructions so that all your students, even the ones who aren't good at science but need to get into univeristy, can succeed in this task?
I think the "hook" needs to be better. For me, i need something stronger to get me engaged in the project?
I could see this unit being successful in a science school with gifted learners. But we have difficulties picturing greater success with the learning audiences of other less "talented" schools.

I think you both would be great science teachers, but I think I would be bored with writing a lab report. Is there anyway to make this thing sexier? More pimpin?

I don't know if a simple machine is considered technology, but I personally think you could do more. You show videos, you use a google.doc, you use technology to keep track of progress of the experiment, you use skype to bring in a professional, but I don't know (and it might be that I am underquailified to judge) what technology you are using in your Simple Machine Experiment?