Generating and Testing Hypotheses

from Classroom Instruction that Works Robert J. Marzano, Debra, J . Pickering, Jane E. Pollock, MCREL, 2001.

Summary of Research on Generating and Testing Hypotheses

• Hypothesis generation and testing can be approached in a more inductive or deductive manner. In general, students produce better results when using the deductive thinking process.
  • Deductive thinking requires students to apply current knowledge to make a prediction about a future action or event.
  • Inductive thinking involves students in a process of drawing new conclusions based on information they know or have presented to them.
• Teachers should ask students to clearly explain their hypotheses and their conclusions. Research has shown the power of asking students to explain, in a variety of communication modes, their predictions and results.

Classroom Practice in Generating and Testing Hypotheses

• Even though the process of generating and testing hypotheses is most often applied in the science curriculum, teachers should be encouraged to implement the following tasks across all disciplines.  Use a variety of structured tasks to guide students through generating and testing hypotheses. 
  • Systems Analysis-Create activities that ask students to evaluate the parts of a system and generate hypotheses to predict changes if a part of the system was altered.
  • Problem Solving-Using their knowledge of concepts related to the problem, students evaluate different approaches to a solution and then generate and test their hypotheses.
  • Historical Investigation-Engage students in historical investigations by having them create reasonable scenarios of past events for which there is no general agreement.
  • Invention-Pose an existing problem to students that requires them to develop solution to the problem. Invention often leads to the generation and testing of multiple hypotheses.
  • Experimental Inquiry-“The Scientific Method” Create activities that promote student use of the scientific method across all disciplines.
  • Decision Making-Incorporating the use of a structured decision-making framework can help examine results of hypothesis testing.
• Ask students to explain their thinking as they test and generate hypotheses.

Technology Resources

• Title: System Analysis
  Grade Level(s): All
  Curricular Area(s): Science, Math, Economics, Social Studies
  Description: study ecosystems, human systems, systems of government, and transportation, etc.
  Resources:
  • systems to study wetlands with digital cameras - http://www.wetlands.org/
  • Visit UEN's Themepark for a collection of resources dealing with a variety of systems. Marzano recommends students: 1) Explain the purpose of the system, the parts and functions of each part of the system; 2) Describe how the parts affect each other; 3) Hypothesize what would happen if a part of the system were changed; 4) Test the hypothesis if possible.
  • Marcopolo Search Results for System Analysis
    
• Title: Problem Solving
  Grade Level(s): All
  Curricular Area(s): All
  Description:
  Resources
  • Build an egg container to survive a fall from two stories. Videotape the fall and examine why container worked or failed - http://www.apple.com/education/dv/gallery/mov2.html
  • Have students create their own rollercoaster at Amusement Park Physics. Students must use information and knowledge to build a rollercoaster.
  • Marcopolo search results for Problem Solving
    
• Title: Historical Investigation
  Grade Level(s): All
  Curriculum Area(s): All 
  Description:
  Resources:
  • Use PDF documents of old newspapers and Internet research to study a historical event - The American Memory Project At the Library of Congress - http://memory.loc.gov/
  • Students can begin to understand how Historians investigate past events at You Be the Historian.
  • The Learning Page from The Library of Congress is a great starting point to find lesson plans utilizing historical information.
  • Marcopolo search results for Historical Investigation
    
• Title: Invention
  Grade Level(s);

  Curricular Area(s):

  Description:

  Resources:

  • Study cardiovascular systems through simulations to develop a new form of exercise to solve the problem- http://web.mit.edu/invent/www/InvenTeam/InventionProcess/
  • Students can create their own contraption at Invention at Play.
  • Kids Design Network provides a setting for teachers to challenge students to create a specific product and seek advice from an engineer.
  • Marcopolo search results for Invention
     
• Title: Experimental Inquiry
  Grade Level(s): All

  Curricular Area(s): All

  Description: Scientific Method

  Resources: 

  • Scientific probes and PDAs - http://www.imagiworks.com/
  • Genetics simulation - http://biologica.concord.org/
  • Students apply their understanding of gravity to recreate a comet crashing into Jupiter at Planet Impact. 
  • Have students create their own rollercoaster at Amusement Park Physics. Students must use information and knowledge to build a rollercoaster.
  • Students can create their own contraption at Invention at Play. 
  • Kids Design Network provides a setting for teachers to challenge students to create a specific product and seek advice from an engineer. 
  • Marcopolo search results for Experimental Inquiry
    
• Title: Decision Making

  Grade Level(s): All

  Curricular Area(s): All

  Description:

  Resources:

  • Predict and justify decisions. Example: determine the most influential musical group of the past 5 years - http://www.rockonthenet.com/charts/ 
  • Students can participate in the decision making process using Tom Snyder's Decisions, Decisions series. Available as an online subscription or on CD.
  • Teach students the decision-making process, including selecting items with the "most" or "least" of something using this Decision Making Grid (created in Excel).
  • Marcopolo search results for Decision Making