Using Phenomena-Based Learning in the Science Classroom

(3 credits/45 hours) in-service credit only

Instructor: Allison Elfreth Email: AElfrethliips@gmail.com

Course Description:  Phenomena has been the new buzz word in education ever since Finland made Phenomena-Based Learning compulsory starting in 2016.  At its core, phenomena-based learning is intended to be a cross-disciplinary form of teaching that enables students to understand the connections between multiple disciplines and how those disciplinary knowledges can be used together to solve problems.  Practically, unless a school culture devotes itself to providing time in the day for students to participate in a multidisciplinary PhenoBL module as done in Finland, phenomena-based learning can and must be done in a given subject area.  Phenomena are simply observable events, and they need not be phenomenal.  The phenomena should have a real-world context which is how we can begin to engage all students.  Similar to project-based learning and problem-based learning, students are expected to work together to ask questions and find solutions to those questions.  We will explore the following

• What is phenomena-based learning?
• What are the qualities of good phenomena?
• A library of phenomena examples
• Using graphs and data in a real-world context as an anchoring phenomena
• How phenomena are related to the Next-Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
• How to use storylines to guide our lessons using anchoring phenomena
• Phenomena based learning and the 5E Model