Action Research

I thought I would take a minute to write that I am beginning my action research data recording this week. I am currently reviewing the inquiry-based lab that I will be using this week on fingerprinting. This will be the first inquiry lab that my forensics classes will be participating in. I am looking forward to observing their reactions to this approach. I plan to use my reflections on this week's lessons to help prepare the rest of the inquiry-based labs that we will do throughout the semester.

I began the action research process this week by presenting my first inquiry-based lab experience to my forensics students. The lab was on fingerprinting and required the students to "solve a crime" by developing a way to life and compare a criminal's fingerprints to those of 5 different suspects. I wasn't surprised by their initial reactions. Although we had been learning about the basics of fingerprint, they seemed confused when they realized that they were going to have to figure out a way to lift a set of prints on their own. Once they wrote a procedure and were presented with materials, it was exciting to see them investigate using their own ideas. They asked a lot of good questions and made some good discoveries, not only about fingerprinting, but about the process of studying science. As a whole they did very well on the quiz, including the critical thinking questions that were included. I am trying to incorporate more and more of a focus on critical thinking into the class in general. Hopefully the next unit that we study will go even better! I think that the process of inquiry becomes easier with practice and experience. I hope that my students will take away more than just a knowledge of forensics from this class, but also an understanding of the scientific process!