Enhancing Investigative Practices by Empowering Students as Scientists

This workshop guides science teachers in shifting from teacher-directed labs toward student-centered investigative practices. It emphasizes preparing students to act as scientists—asking questions, designing investigations, analyzing data, and drawing evidence-based conclusions. Participants will explore strategies for gradually releasing responsibility, incorporating pre-lab and post-lab work, and scaffolding data literacy skills so that lab activities become purposeful extensions of classroom learning. The session aligns with NGSS three-dimensional learning, ensuring labs move beyond rote procedures to authentic inquiry and scientific thinking.

• Overreliance on “cookbook” labs that prioritize procedures over scientific inquiry and problem-solving.
  
  
• Students going through the motions of labs without understanding purpose, context, or application.
  
  
• Lack of structured pre-lab and post-lab supports that connect investigations to unit goals and develop critical thinking skills.

1. Designing Student-Centered Investigations: Educators will learn how to shift control from teacher-directed labs to student-led investigations, using scaffolds like “half-and-half” or “procedure theatre” before progressing to fully independent labs.
   
   
2. Preparing and Supporting Students for Success: Participants will develop strategies for pre-lab preparation (research, graphic organizers, question-setting) and post-lab reflection (lab reports, exit tickets, data analysis) that make lab days meaningful and aligned to learning goals.
   
   
3. Strengthening Scientific Practices and Data Literacy: Teachers will practice embedding NGSS Science and Engineering Practices—such as planning investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, and constructing explanations—into labs while building students’ confidence with measurements, data tables, and appropriate graphing.