Bengkel Kerja

Inquiry-Based Science Education (IBSE)

Raising Questions
(Bertanya Soalan Seperti Saintis)

Anjuran
Pusat STEM Negara

PUSAT STEM NEGARA, BAHAGIAN PERANCANGAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN DASAR PENDIDIKAN, KPM
Objectives of the session
At the end of the session, participants will be able to
a. ask as many questions as possible based on the
activities.
b. differentiate between investigable and non-
investigable questions
c. build the criteria for investigable questions
d. turn non-investigable questions into investigable
questions

PUSAT STEM NEGARA, BAHAGIAN PERANCANGAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN DASAR PENDIDIKAN, KPM
Engage
Questions are the basis of all inquiry.

How can we encourage students to ask

questions?

One way is to use discrepant events.

A discrepant event gives a surprising outcome
that is not what an observer would normally
expect. 

PUSAT STEM NEGARA, BAHAGIAN PERANCANGAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN DASAR PENDIDIKAN, KPM
Explore
Based on the set up, predict what will happen
(i) when the bottle is squeezed;
(ii) when the squeeze is released.

PUSAT STEM NEGARA, BAHAGIAN PERANCANGAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN DASAR PENDIDIKAN, KPM
Explore
1. Manipulate the set up given, observe and
record your questions
• Manipulate the setup.
• Observe carefully, talk to each other and produce
as many questions as you can about what you are
seeing and wondering.
• Write down all your questions using a marker pen.
Write one question on a piece of A4 paper.
• Record your questions in your Science Notebook
too.

PUSAT STEM NEGARA, BAHAGIAN PERANCANGAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN DASAR PENDIDIKAN, KPM
Explore
2. Examine questions
• Set aside the materials.
• In your group, examine the questions that you
have generated.
• Agree on ONE to share with the others.

PUSAT STEM NEGARA, BAHAGIAN PERANCANGAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN DASAR PENDIDIKAN, KPM
Explain
1. Sorting the questions
Is the question investigable?
• Go through all your questions.
• Identify question you think are
“investigable (I)” and those you think are
“noninvestigable (NI)”.

Investigable questions can be investigated by doing

something concrete with tools and materials.

PUSAT STEM NEGARA, BAHAGIAN PERANCANGAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN DASAR PENDIDIKAN, KPM
Explain
2. Sharing your questions
• Each group share one “investigable question (I) and
one “non-investigable (NI)”.

• Do you agree with the groupings? Let’s discuss.

PUSAT STEM NEGARA, BAHAGIAN PERANCANGAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN DASAR PENDIDIKAN, KPM
Explain
3. Developing criteria
• What made you think that a question is
investigable?
• How are non-investigable questions worded?
• How are investigable questions worded?

PUSAT STEM NEGARA, BAHAGIAN PERANCANGAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN DASAR PENDIDIKAN, KPM
Elaborate
Turning questions
• Let’s do a “variables scan” on a noninvestigable
question – find the elements that you can change in
the experiment.

“Variables scan” was coined by British educator and

curriculum developer Sheila Jelly. It is a strategy
recommended for handling complex questions, and
in particular those of the ‘why’ kind…

• Based on the variable(s), formulate questions that

can be investigated.

PUSAT STEM NEGARA, BAHAGIAN PERANCANGAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN DASAR PENDIDIKAN, KPM
Elaborate
Turning Questions
• Based on the elements you can change (variables),
formulate questions that can be investigated.

• What has happened?

PUSAT STEM NEGARA, BAHAGIAN PERANCANGAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN DASAR PENDIDIKAN, KPM
Elaborate
Turning Questions:
Example of a variable scan
Noninvestigable question:
Why does ice melt so fast when you put it in water?

What variables can you find?

Variables….
1. ice
2. water (or liquid)
PUSAT STEM NEGARA, BAHAGIAN PERANCANGAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN DASAR PENDIDIKAN, KPM
Elaborate
Turning Questions: Example of a variable scan

How can ice be changed?

size, shape, how much it is submerged

What questions involves changing something about

ice?

Possible turned questions:

What happens when I change the shape of the ice?
Do many small pieces melt faster than one big piece?

PUSAT STEM NEGARA, BAHAGIAN PERANCANGAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN DASAR PENDIDIKAN, KPM
Elaborate
Turning Questions: Example of a variable scan

How can water/liquid be changed?

volume, temperature, adding salt or sugar, different
types of liquid

What questions involves changing something about

the water/liquid?

Possible turned questions:

What happens if I put ice in salt water?
Does ice melt faster in 100 ml of water or 200 ml of
water?
PUSAT STEM NEGARA, BAHAGIAN PERANCANGAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN DASAR PENDIDIKAN, KPM
Extend
Connecting to the classroom

• In your group, discuss 2 questions:

1. Based on your experiences in this session, what

are some ideas you have about questioning?

2. What are some ways you can help your students

become more effective questioners?

PUSAT STEM NEGARA, BAHAGIAN PERANCANGAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN DASAR PENDIDIKAN, KPM
Extend
Raising questions & IBSE
• Questions are the basis of all inquiry.

• Whether it is in the classroom or the research

laboratory, investigations begin when we
encounter materials and phenomena that we
don’t understand—that engage our curiosity and
draw us into looking at something more carefully.

PUSAT STEM NEGARA, BAHAGIAN PERANCANGAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN DASAR PENDIDIKAN, KPM
Extend
Investigating & Questioning
• Investigating often involves cycles of
questioning: raising questions, experimenting,
and asking new questions based on new
observations.

• Asking questions that lead to productive

directions ~ where you take some action ~ is a
skill that can be learned.

PUSAT STEM NEGARA, BAHAGIAN PERANCANGAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN DASAR PENDIDIKAN, KPM
Conclusion
Raising investigable questions is important not just for
the sake of being able to formulate and recognise such
questions but, as in the case of all process skills, such
questions lead to children’s greater understanding of
things around them.
This understanding comes gradually through putting
ideas and evidence together, prompted in the first
instance by a desire to know, by a question.

….. Harlen W. & Elstgeest J. (1992)

PUSAT STEM NEGARA, BAHAGIAN PERANCANGAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN DASAR PENDIDIKAN, KPM
 TERIMA KASIH
Thank you

PUSAT STEM NEGARA, BAHAGIAN PERANCANGAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN DASAR PENDIDIKAN, KPM