EI's Two Levels of Inquiry
is organized into two levels of inquiry modeled after research activities conducted
by professional scientists. Students first learn standard research methods,
or protocols. Then they explore possibilities for using these protocols
to address relevant research questions. After planning and carrying out one
or more interactive research experiments, students present and discuss
the results with their peers and possibly with interested community groups.
EI research represents a continuum, with progressively increasing levels of
student responsibility for the design of the investigations. There also is
a progression in interaction among students as they learn to critically analyze
their results, argue among alternative interpretations, and communicate their
findings to fellow student scientists.
protocols introduce students to standard laboratory and field methods. Experience
with the protocols helps students to develop basic skills and understandings
they will be able to use in designing and carrying out scientific investigations.
Protocols differ from traditional school laboratory exercises
because they are research techniques rather than demonstrations, so the teacher
does not necessarily know the outcome in advance. Data sheets, available in
the downloadable forms section of the
For Teachers page, guide students through the appropriate steps in data
analysis and interpretation, including the final step of generating ideas for
Having mastered one or more of the protocols, students use
these techniques to carry out open-ended research projects. This level is called
interactive research because it emphasizes collaborative knowledge building
and information exchange. Students communicate their findings and build on
each other's experiences as they:
- Narrow down an interesting research question
an appropriate experiment or series of experiments
- Share observations
and advice with other students who are conducting similar studies
various possible interpretations of research results
- Present findings
in oral or written form
- Participate in peer review of research presentations
- Recommend ideas and approaches for future experiments
| Protocol labs
|Students learn standard laboratory and field methods.
||The whole class carries out a dose/response experiment using
duckweed and various concentrations of copper sulfate.
| Interactive Research
||Students develop their own questions and work in groups
to carry out investigations. They present their findings, discuss possible
interpretations of their results, and get feedback from their peers,
either face-to-face or electronically.
||Student groups brainstorm and carry out individualized projects
to address questions such as: Is copper sulfate also toxic to Daphnia
and/or lettuce seeds? Is some other herbicide less toxic to duckweed?
Does duckweed grow better with higher nutrient concentrations? Students
begin by searching classroom and web-based archives of previous student
research for data from related experiments. After completing their experiment,
they exchange peer review with students who have carried out other types
of bioassay experiments.