Energizing student thinking: The power of decision making and evaluation in science

Research Questions. What happens when students engage in an activity that involves higher order thinking? Do students demonstrate higher order thinking in the activity? Does the activity promote content learning?;Research Activities. The intervention focused on improving students' use of higher order thinking, specifically evaluation and decision making. Context. The intervention took place in a 6 th grade Earth Science class at a K--8 school in a small but growing district. The school is in an urban area on the fringes of a large city and is a Title I school. The class has 28 students including English Language Learners and Special Education students. Methods and Data. Students took pre and post-tests on energy resources as well as pre and post higher order thinking assessments. The class developed a decision making strategy and researched energy resources with the intent of recommending an energy source to the governor. Students participated in an energy summit during which they shared their research and explored different energy options. Students then wrote a letter to the governor recommending their preferred energy source. Results. Students showed an improvement in evaluation of information and discussion of rationale for eliminating options but still lacked in their ability to discuss limitations of their own choice. Students also showed an understanding of energy resources but not a mastery of the content.;Grade Level. 6;Data Collection Methods. Audiotape, Curriculum assessment, Observation-Field notes, Student work, Writing samples;Curriculum Areas. Science---Earth Science;Instructional Approaches. Class discussion, Curriculum integration, Direct Instruction, Note-taking, Student engagement, Writing---Letter writing...