Hawaii Teachers Who RIP at Scientific Inquiry to Speak at 2008 National Conference on Science Education



Eight of Hawaii's public school teachers will present the outcomes resulting from classroom implementations of the Research Investigation Process (RIP) scientific inquiry-based science education program this week at the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) 2008 National Conference on Science Education in Boston.

The six classroom and two resource Honolulu District teachers accomplished this achievement with the support of a Mathematics and Science Partnership (MSP) federally funded project, RIPing @ Science in Kaimuki Complex (http://kaimukirip.k12.hi.us), that supports and encourages Kaimuki K-12 teachers to meet the National Science Education Standards (NSES) through attainment of conditions that involve changes in what is traditionally emphasized. Among these NSES-specified changes are the placing of "more emphasis" on "teacher as producer of knowledge about teaching,"teacher as leader," and "teacher as source and facilitator of change."

"It is the ultimate confirmation that participants have 'arrived' when they are committed to the professional sharing in what is probably the most prestigious national arena -- the NSTA National Conference," mentioned resource teacher and MSP project principal investigator Pam Kohara. "They were also committed to the RIP process and strived to refine their own practices as they pushed their students to apply critical thinking and 'true' scientific methodology." Kaimuki/Kalani Complex Area Superintendent Estelle Wong stated, "...an added bonus to this professional development effort is seeing teachers exceed expectations of professionalism. Two examples of this is having a RIP trained teacher win a Presidential Science Award as a result of a project she conducted with her sixth grade class and repeatedly seeing the RIP teachers' willingness to share their learning and present at local and national conferences."

The RIP is a research-based program that enables students to meet benchmarks and address standards as they engage in scientific investigations. "This process provides a framework for addressing standards in science which is perhaps one of the more challenging content areas for elementary teachers. It also serves as a tool that can be applied in content areas beyond science where students have the opportunity to demonstrate achievement of content and skills that may exceed standards in all academic arenas," commented resource teacher Irene Kamimura.

The teacher presenters represent a wide range of grade levels across Kaimuki Complex schools. Wendy Gonsalves from Lunalilo Elementary School and Chad Dela Cruz from Hokulani Elementary School will team to present how their students used scientific inquiry to solve a classroom dilemma while they attained standards-based scientific knowledge. Their session, "Turn Up the Noise; Bring on the Sound: Science Building on Science," describes how students studied the characteristics of noise in their school to improve learning and illustrates how scientific knowledge builds upon itself. When asked what outcome she would like to see resulting from her presentation, Ms. Gonsalves stated, "I hope that the joy and excitement of implementing open inquiry in the classroom can be of help to other teachers and ... they walk away with new ideas and excitement over this new and fresh way to engage students in scientific inquiry."

Hokulani Elementary School teacher Shari Kaneshiro will present how her sixth grade students used the RIP scientific inquiry model to challenge the accuracy of speed data obtained from a police laser gun in her presentation, "With RIPing Speed, Students Test the Physics of Law Enforcement Through Scientific Inquiry." In another session, "Investigating Termite Nature to Control Destructive Behaviors," seventh grade Teacher Anne McKnight from Washington Middle School will discuss her students' research investigations on Formosan subterranean termites and describe how students used their new learning to educate their families on how negative aspects of termite habits can be controlled in urban Hawaii.

"RIPing @ Science in a K-12 Complex--Where Scientific Inquiry is Used as a Critical Thinking Tool for Learners" will describe how this complex-wide initiative targeting the improvement of science education has ignited the use of scientific inquiry from kindergarten through grade twelve, changing the learning and decision making perspective in science and other content areas. In this session, Teachers Carrie Bashaw of Kaimuki High School and Joyce Luka of Palolo Elementary school will discuss the implementation of the RIP program into their classrooms and share their students' work. Ms. Kamimura, Ms. Kohara, and Dr. Robert Landsman, President of ANOVA Science Education Corporation and developer of the RIP, will provide background information and present data to illustrate how the RIPing @ Science project has positively impacted teaching and learning at the Kaimuki Complex schools.

The RIP science education program, distributed and supported by ANOVA Science Education Corporation (ANOVA Science; http://www.ScientificInquiry.com; http://www.anovascience.com), is at the core of the RIPing @ Science in Kaimuki project which has enabled these teachers to excel in their application of scientific inquiry to science instruction. As a result, according to Ms. Kohara, "Teachers became even more confident and knowledgeable about the application of the RIP to learning and thinking."

"Now I have more of a pulse on how to focus students on the scientific process...," stated Anne McKnight. "It has impacted how I looked at the expectations of my classroom. I really looked at, and pushed for a higher degree and standard of expectations for both the class and myself with respect to meeting scientific pursuits." A hallmark of the RIP scientific inquiry program is its focus on placing the students at the center of the learning experience by providing them the opportunity to investigate topics that are interesting and relevant to their own lives. "...the doors we open today will offer them the process and thinking that is going to lead them to make an impact in science in the future," added McKnight.

According to Dr. Landsman, "The selection process for the NSTA National Conference is notoriously competitive. These teachers exemplify the NSES emphasis on teachers as leaders and contributors of knowledge to their field. The dedication and commitment that these teachers put forth in implementing inquiry as part of their instructional strategy and composing and submitting their proposals to this highly competitive refereed meeting is commendable and I congratulate them on their achievement." Ms. Kohara stated, "There is no truer assessment of success than to see eight presenters enter submissions and have all eight selected for presentations."

When asked how he felt about the opportunity to present at this national event, Mr. Dela Cruz stated, "I feel excited and honored to be sharing at a national conference. It is the first time for me and probably the only opportunity to do something like this. Presenting at this kind of setting is a great professional experience for me."

RIP is a trademark or registered trademark and service mark or registered service mark, of ANOVA Science Education Corporation, ANOVA Science Publishing, and Dr. Robert Landsman in the U.S. and/or other countries. ANOVA Science Education Corporation assists schools in implementing scientific research-based science education programs, providing students with critical thinking and decision-making tools for life-long learning skills that support economic growth and the maintenance of security in the USA. As sole distributor of products and services associated with the Research Investigation Process (RIP) inquiry-based science education program for K-12 schools, the contribution of ANOVA Science's vision, services and products toward the nation's movement for science education reform has been recognized and is well received by national and state education organizations. ANOVA Science's activities and services include professional development workshops, seminars and projects; teacher coaching and mentoring; curriculum development addressing state and national standards; and publishing education materials available online at http://www.anovascience.com or http://www.ScientificInquiry.com.

For more information about the RIP or to speak with Dr. Landsman directly, please call 808-741-8512.





Hawaii Teachers Who RIP at Scientific Inquiry to Speak at 2008 National Conference on Science Education