Presenter: Dr. Mingming Diao
Lead Educational Designer
Opening Real Science: Authentic Mathematics and Science Education for Australia
Moodle Generating Science Inquiry Activities
2014 Moodlemoot AU Conference – Evolution
Cairns 30 June – 2 July
Opening Real Science Project
Co-authors and Affiliations
Prof. John Hedberg
A/Prof. Joanne Mulligan
Dr. Katherine Stewart
Dr. Rod Lane
A/Prof. Helen Pask

Opening Real Science:
Authentic Mathematics and Science Education for Australia
Macquarie University
University of Western Sydney
Charles Sturt University
Australian Catholic University
University of Canberra
University of Notre Dame Australia
Edith Cowan University
Australian Astronomical Observatory
CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science
Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescopes
Office for Learning and Teaching
Enhancing the Training of Mathematics and Science Teachers
Opening Real Science Project

ORS Central Team
Project Director, Assoc Prof Joanne Mulligan, Macquarie University
Project Leader Assoc Prof Carmel Coady, UWS
Project Leader Prof John Hedberg, Macquarie University
Project Leader Prof Quentin Parker, Macquarie University
Dr Kathy Stewart, Project Academic Developer, Macquarie University
Dr MingMing Diao, Lead Educational Designer, Macquarie University
Opening Real Science Project

Opening Real Science
“The issue is that science is not taught as it is actually
practised: hypothesis, experimentation, observation,
interpretation and debate”.
• Opening Real Science is a unique national partnership
between leading teacher educators, scientists,
mathematicians and ICT experts to bring real relevant
science to Australia’s classrooms
(Joanne Mulligan & Katherine Stewart, 2014)
Opening Real Science Project

ETMST Project Outcomes
Opening Real Science will advance quality teaching and learning in mathematics
and science by:
Developing and delivering sets of modules, equivalent to eight university
semester units, embodying the real science approach in:
a) Mathematics (including statistics and financial literacy)
b) Physical Sciences (including Astronomy and earth/space science)
c) Chemical Sciences (including biochemistry)
d) Biological sciences (including bioethics, genetics, and medicine)
Opening Real Science Project
(Joanne Mulligan & Katherine Stewart, 2014)

ETMST Project Outcomes (cont)
• Identifying and building a network of outstanding school mentors –
exceptional, inspiring teachers in our schools.
• Developing and implementing a new model of professional experience
(practicum) enabling students to work collaboratively with school mentors.
• Dissemination: researching the development of these initiatives
• Building and maintaining a network of mathematicians, scientists (within
and outside the university
Opening Real Science Project
(Joanne Mulligan & Katherine Stewart, 2014)

Exemplar Module - Tropical Cyclones
Students use the context of
tropical cyclones to question their
ideas and build their
understandings about weather.
The module takes students
through a series of investigations
culminating in their planning and
presenting their own explanations
for weather phenomena.
Opening Real Science Project
Module Leader - Dr. Rod Lane

Exemplar Module - Consumer Chemistry
This module is
designed to assist
students to conduct
their own inquiries.
While becoming more
comfortable with the
processes and
concepts of chemistry,
students will plan and
design their own
chemistry
demonstration.
http://jenniferwolfchemistry.wordpress.com/2012/11/21/ph-indicator-from-red-cabbage/
Opening Real Science Project
Module Leader - Dr. Kathy Stewart

Exemplar Module - Sound
Students conduct a number of
practical activities designed to
build their understandings of
sound. They then design their
own activity to explain questions
they have posed about sound.
Opening Real Science Project
Module Leader - A/Prof. Helen Pask

Design Framework
Opening Real Science Project
Traditional scientific approach
1.Ask questions answerable through a scientific
approach.
2.Design strategies to pursue and collect data-
based evidence.
3.Communicate and defend conclusions based on
collected evidence.
(John Hedberg, In Press)

“Normal” Science educational design
The “Big Picture”
The “enabling”
concepts
How they relate to
each other
How they interact with
each other
Start
End
Opening Real Science Project
(David H. McKinnon, 2014)

“Normal” Science educational design
The “Big Picture”
The “enabling”
concepts
How they relate to
each other
How they interact with
each other
Start
End
Opening Real Science Project
(David H. McKinnon, 2014)

“Normal” Science educational design
The “Big Picture”
The “enabling”
concepts
How they relate to
each other
How they interact with
each other
Start
End
Opening Real Science Project
(David H. McKinnon, 2014)

“Normal” Science educational design
The “Big Picture”
The “enabling”
concepts
How they relate to
each other
How they interact with
each other
Start
End
Opening Real Science Project
(David H. McKinnon, 2014)

Design Framework
Opening Real Science Project
Backward Faded Scaffolding
1.Communicate and defend conclusions based on
collected evidence, then
2.Design strategies to pursue and collect data-
based evidence, then
3.Ask questions answerable through a scientific
approach.
(John Hedberg, In Press)

Design Framework
Opening Real Science Project
Backward faded scaffolding schema
Sequence Research
Question Source
Research
Method Source
Data and
Evidence Source
Conclusion Source
1 Teacher Teacher Teacher Teacher
2 Teacher Teacher Teacher Student
3 Teacher Teacher Student Student
4 Teacher Student Student Student
5 Student Student Student Student

The Educational Design Model - 6E model
Opening Real Science Project
(Image used with Permission: Hedberg, In Press)

Science Inquiries and Moodle Activities - 1
Opening Real Science Project

Science Inquiries and Moodle Activities - 2
Opening Real Science Project
Science Inquiries Moodle Tools Application Comment
Assessment of
understanding real
science concepts
and share
experimental
results/evidence
(Explain, Explore
and Elucidate)
Discussion
Forum
Use for many
types of learning
activities
- Set up a discussion
form, which will
allow students to:
communicate with
peers and teaching
staff; collaborate
with their peers for
experiments;
dialogue their
understanding of
real science
concepts
- Each
student may
be involved
into various
discussion
fora
- No
individual
portfolio
Wring a learning
diary or log;
Evaluating the
understating of real
science concepts;
reporting
experiments;
sharing study
experience
(Explain, Explore,
Elaborate, Evaluate
and Elucidate)
OU Blog
Allows for
creation of blogs
within a unit
(these are
separate to the
core Moodle blog
system). You can
have unit-wide
blogs (everyone
in the unit posts
to the same blog),
group blogs, or
individual blogs.
- Students will be
asked to create their
own blog at the very
beginning
- Students use their
blog to explain,
explore, elaborate
and evaluate
- Blogs need
to be set up
for unit-
wide, group
or
individual
- Blogs
cannot be
exported as
a package
- Students
will lose
access to
their blogs
after
graduation

Science Inquiries and Moodle Activities - 3
Opening Real Science Project

Science Inquiries and Moodle Activities - 4
Opening Real Science Project

Science Inquiries and Moodle Activities - 5
Opening Real Science Project

• Scientific Activity Instruction – Page, Label and URL
Examples of Moodle Activity Design
Opening Real Science Project
http://educmoodle.ltc.mq.edu.au/course/view.php?id=563

• Scientific Activity Instruction – Page, Label and URL (cont.)
Examples of Moodle Activity Design
Opening Real Science Project
http://educmoodle.ltc.mq.edu.au/course/view.php?id=565

• Scientific Activity Instruction – Page, Label and URL (cont.)
Examples of Moodle Activity Design
Opening Real Science Project
http://educmoodle.ltc.mq.edu.au/mod/page/view.php?id=18442

• Experimental Results and Explanation - Quiz
Examples of Moodle Activity Design
Opening Real Science Project
http://educmoodle.ltc.mq.edu.au/mod/quiz/attempt.php?attempt=2542&page=1
http://educmoodle.ltc.mq.edu.au/mod/quiz/attempt.php?attempt=2583

• Experiment Report - Forum
Examples of Moodle Activity Design
Opening Real Science Project
http://educmoodle.ltc.mq.edu.au/mod/page/view.php?id=20347

• Scientific Activity Record and Reflection - Learning Diary (i.e. Blog)
Examples of Moodle Activity Design
Opening Real Science Project
http://educmoodle.ltc.mq.edu.au/course/view.php?id=565
http://educmoodle.ltc.mq.edu.au/course/view.php?id=563

• Scientific Conception Summary - Wiki
Examples of Moodle Activity Design
Opening Real Science Project
http://educmoodle.ltc.mq.edu.au/mod/wiki/view.php?id=20306

Notre Dame Trial July 2014
The initial trial of the concept of online modules to support primary teacher
education in science is being held at Notre Dame University.
We are looking forward the valuable feedback from Notre Dame
University to improve the online modules.
Real time cross over

• “Teaching Diary or Log” and “Learning Diary or Log”
A combination of Blog, Wiki, Discussion Forum and e-Portfolio, which will
be used to record the teaching and learning process (e.g. record the
experimental results including images, words and video, share with peers,
and send a report to teacher
The diary or log might allow both individual and group work/contribution;
allow feedback; allow export to other social media platform (as a package)
when students graduate (e.g. use as an e-Portfolio)
Suggestions to Moodle
Opening Real Science Project

Suggestions to Moodle
Opening Real Science Project
• Enhancement of Quiz
- Using quiz to record students’
experimental results in a table
- Using quiz to check students’
learning process and
understanding of scientific
concepts
http://educmoodle.ltc.mq.edu.au/mod/quiz/attempt.php?attempt=2561

Suggestions to Moodle
Opening Real Science Project
• Enhancement of Wiki
- Better appearance (e.g.
table)
- Allow individual wiki page
space, page tree, page
restriction, and import from
and export to PDF, Word
Document or others.
http://educmoodle.ltc.mq.edu.au/mod/wiki/view.php?id=20306

Questions and Feedback
Opening Real Science Project
Contact
Mingming Diao, PhD
mingming.diao@mq.edu.au
+61 2 9850 1946
Lead Educational Designer
Opening Real Science: Authentic Mathematics and Science
Education for Australia
School of Education
Faculty of Human Sciences
Macquarie University North Ryde
Sydney NSW AUSTRALIA 2109