SEP-1
Asking Questions and Defining Problems
Source: NSTA
Objectives
Middle School
Asking questions and defining problems in grades 6–8 builds from grades K–5 experiences and progresses to specifying relationships between variables and clarifying arguments and models.
Ask questions that require sufficient and appropriate empirical evidence to answer.
Ask questions that arise from careful observation of phenomena, models, or unexpected results, to clarify and/or seek additional information.
Ask questions to identify and/or clarify evidence and/or the premise(s) of an argument.
Ask questions to determine relationships between independent and dependent variables and relationships in models.
Ask questions to clarify and/or refine a model, an explanation, or an engineering problem.
Ask questions that can be investigated within the scope of the classroom, outdoor environment, and museums and other public facilities with available resources and, when appropriate, frame a hypothesis based on observations and scientific principles.
Define a design problem that can be solved through the development of an object, tool, process or system and includes multiple criteria and constraints, including scientific knowledge that may limit possible solutions.
Ask questions that challenge the premise(s) of an argument or the interpretation of a data set.
High School (9-12)
Asking questions and defining problems in 9–12 builds on grades K–8 experiences and progresses to formulating, refining, and evaluating empirically testable questions and design problems using models and simulations.
Observation -Ask questions that arise from careful observation of phenomena, or unexpected results, to clarify and/or seek additional information.
Clarification - Ask questions that arise from examining models or a theory, to clarify and/or seek additional information and relationships.
IV and DV - Ask questions to determine relationships, including quantitative relationships, between independent and dependent variables.
Refining - Ask questions to clarify and refine a model, an explanation, or an engineering problem.
Testable - Evaluate a question to determine if it is testable and relevant.
Practical - Ask questions that can be investigated within the scope of the school laboratory, research facilities, or field (e.g., outdoor environment) with available resources and, when appropriate, frame a hypothesis based on a model or theory.
Challenge - Ask and/or evaluate questions that challenge the premise(s) of an argument, the interpretation of a data set, or the suitability of the design.
Videos
Asking Questions & Defining Problems - Bozeman Science (Paul Anderson)