Yesterday, the team met up with Dr Yap and Alexis to update everyone on:

• inquiry-based lessons completed and action research done
• list of lesson materials and outcomes
• preparation of papers for cluster sharing, AR publication and conference
• budget expenditure
• plans for Semester 2
• issues and concerns on inquiry-based learning and action research

Dr Soh Kay Cheng has published a book "Workshops on Action Research: A Guide for Teachers to Become Teacher-researchers" (May 2006). Mr Lau has purchased 10 copies for our teachers.
Related resources can be found at Dr Soh's website at www.cllab.net/sohkc/download.html

The team has shared on "Inquiry-based learning in Physics" as an Innowits project during the staff contact in school. We would draft abstracts/presentations to contribute to the following:

1. Cluster Sharing
2. NZ AR publication (14 Jul)
3. ICET 2007 (Nov)

The Teachers' Network website provides useful database for teachers doing research, e.g. finding journal articles online.
At http://sam11.moe.gov.sg/tn/gds/login.asp, login using edumail account.
On right sidebar, click on eResources. These include:
1. ASTD (American Society for Training & Development)
2. EBSCOhost Reseach Databases
3. Lexis-Nexis Research Database
4. Newslink (The Business Times, The Straits Times)

We met Alexis (ETO) on 23 Mar to report on the LEAD IT Project progress. We updated him on the project design and results of 3 projects: namely inquiry-based learning and AR on Waves (longitudinal and transverse waves) and Kinematics (graphical interpretation), and AR on IT-based interactive module on Light (Lenses). He suggested extending our research through:

• longitudinal attitude survey for a batch of students,
• use of peer/expert lesson observations including qualitative observations or video recordings

The Sec 4 team met on Wed 14 Mar to discuss planning of inquiry-based learning on Electricity. Key components:
a. introduction to topic
b. introduction to use of Crocodile Physics
c. pre-test/post-test
d. design of modules: model of electric current, current & resistance, voltage, energy & power, using Crocodile Physics as a key software.
e. attitude survey

Dr Yap has published an interesting article on "Assessing conceptual learning from quantitative problem solving of a plane mirror problem" at
http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/0031-9120/42/1/005/

The team met Dr Yap on 15 Feb. He reviewed our current project results analysis and gave us useful insights into inquiry based learning and the action research methology.
Some learning points are:

• the duration of the alternative teaching strategy needs to be sufficiently long to have any significant effect
• besides test scores, it is good to have other "measures" such as attitude surveys, analysis of types of responses in the test, etc.
• different modes of representation may be investigated
• have an operational approach for "inquiry"

The project team met yesterday to update progress. One group shared on the AR project on "Lenses"; the other shared on the Inquiry-based project on "Kinematics". Project designs and evaluation procedures were discussed. Appointment with an NIE consultant would be made to discuss the analysis of the results using AR tools.

Lenses
We've conducted the written post-test of 5 items and are analysing the results. A perception survey of the attitudes of the students towards the two learning methods has been conducted in the computer lab using the online assessment feature in our Learning Management System (LMS).

7 Jan 2007
We've designed an action research project to help us to familiarise with the AR process.
1. A group of students would learn the topic "lenses" (under Light) using an interactive IT-based lesson module (downloaded from MOE http://www.moe.gov.sg/edsoftware/ir/physics.htm and installed in computer lab) while another equivalent group would have normal classroom lessons. Written worksheets were given to both groups for ray-diagram practice.
2. A post-test of 5 items (mcq with reasoning required) would be conducted after the lessons to evaluate the learning effect.
3. A perception survey would also be conducted to find out the attitudes of the students towards the two learning methods.