Starting the 5E Learning Cycle: the ENGAGE Phase

After discussing how we can use our knowledge of the science of learning to help students understand science concepts better, we created summarizing concept maps of the Chapter 10 "Learning in the Middle and High School Classroom" reading (Chiappetta, E. L. & Koballa, Jr., T. R. (2010). Science Instruction in the Middle and Secondary Schools: Developing Fundamental Knowledge and Skills for Teaching; 7th Edition. Allyn & Bacon). Students took photos of the concept maps and shared them on Yogile.com (use the password "scienceed" to check them out!). Please note that albums in the free version of this webtool are deleted after 14 days, so it may not be available anymore when you check. Here are a couple of examples too:

Taylor's Concept Map

Dylan and Brett's Map

The Chapter 10 discussion was followed by a look at the Abell and Brown article titled  Examining the Learning Cycle (2007). Students each came up with one key point from the article. They shared these via Today's Meet and here was the list they came up with:



We will explore the 5E Learning Cycle in the weeks to come, starting with the ENGAGE phase. To get thinking about this, students practice an example of an activity that could be used to start the topic of DNA Technology. They had to use black and green playdough to create a genetically engineered organism. This not only got them interested in the topic (or "hooked") but also uncovered preconceptions about what genetically engineered organisms are. The instructor took photos of their creations and shared them with students again on Yogile.com (see them below if the album has expired). Their GE organisms ranged from camels with photosynthetic eyeballs to a snake with rabbit ears.

After looking at other examples of activities / games/ photos that could be used as the Engage phase, students came up with their own. They shared them on the Padlet wall below and we compared the different approaches students took for presenting some of the same topics.

Created with Padlet