An elementary science teacher engages the students in an inquiry activity involving heat by having them drop food coloring down the inside of a beaker of water at room temperature. Students observe the way the food coloring is dispersed in the water and they record the length of time it takes for the water to be uniformly colored. The students then do the same thing with warm water and with hot water. How can the teacher assess the students' understandings authentically?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Engaging the students in conversations about what they are doing and what they are finding out while they are doing the activity is the best way for the teacher to assess the students' understandings authentically. This allows the teacher to have a better understanding of how the students are thinking about the concepts being explored and to address any misconceptions in real-time. While options A, B, and C may provide some insight into what the students understand, they do not allow for the same level of personalized assessment and feedback that conversations with the teacher do. Option E is too broad and includes options that may not be effective for this particular activity, while option F is not applicable as there must be some form of assessment.

An Elementary Science Teacher Engages the Students in an Inquiry