SI 2011: Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning POGIL - Jennifer Poutsma

Summary

This video discusses the process-oriented guided inquiry learning (POGIL) method, an active learning approach developed to enhance chemistry education. It highlights the importance of student engagement through group work and self-discovery, allowing students to identify and overcome misconceptions. The method promotes critical thinking, communication, teamwork, and self-assessment. The speaker emphasizes the benefits of POGIL in reducing memorization and improving long-term retention, demonstrating its effectiveness through data from various institutions. The POGIL approach has led to higher student success rates, better exam scores, and a deeper understanding of the material.

Takeaways

• 😀 Process-Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) was developed to reduce failures and withdrawals in general chemistry, and it has expanded to high school chemistry and mathematics.
• 😀 POGIL is an active learning method where students work in groups to solve worksheets, instead of having traditional lectures, encouraging them to learn the material themselves.
• 😀 This learning method addresses the misconception that students can simply absorb knowledge from lectures, as it allows students to discover and address their own misconceptions.
• 😀 POGIL encourages students to engage in peer teaching, where they explain concepts to each other, which helps reinforce their understanding of the material.
• 😀 The role of the instructor is that of a facilitator, guiding students through questions rather than directly providing answers to their problems.
• 😀 The worksheets used in POGIL are designed not only to teach chemistry but to help students develop critical thinking, teamwork, time management, and self-assessment skills.
• 😀 POGIL has been shown to reduce memorization, particularly in subjects like organic chemistry, where students typically memorize a list of reactions and forget them afterward.
• 😀 The POGIL method promotes collaboration by encouraging students to form study groups outside of class, which many students were previously unaware of as a strategy for effective learning.
• 😀 POGIL worksheets are structured to guide students from basic understanding of the material to deeper conceptual comprehension, helping them overcome misconceptions along the way.
• 😀 Data from Franklin and Marshall College shows that POGIL leads to a significant decrease in failing or withdrawing grades and an increase in students achieving A's and B's.
• 😀 Virginia Commonwealth University found that students using POGIL retained more material after a break compared to students taught through traditional lecture methods, highlighting its effectiveness for long-term retention.

Q & A

What is the POGIL method and how was it developed?

The Process-Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) method was developed by Fogle and Spencer at Franklin and Marshall College. It was initially designed to address high failure and withdrawal rates in general chemistry courses. The method encourages students to work in groups using specially designed worksheets to actively engage with the material and develop concepts on their own, rather than relying on traditional lectures.

Why was the POGIL method created, and what problem does it aim to solve?

POGIL was created to address the high rates of withdrawals and failures in general chemistry courses. It aims to solve the problem of students not fully understanding the material due to misconceptions, which are often overlooked in traditional lectures. POGIL encourages students to actively participate in their learning, helping them uncover and correct their misunderstandings.

How does POGIL differ from traditional lecture-based teaching?

Unlike traditional lecture-based teaching, POGIL eliminates the lecture format and focuses on group work with guided worksheets. Students collaborate to explore, invent concepts, and apply them, allowing them to develop a deeper understanding of the material. The instructor’s role is to facilitate learning through leading questions rather than giving direct explanations.

What role does the instructor play in the POGIL method?

In the POGIL method, the instructor acts as a facilitator. Rather than delivering lectures, the instructor is available for guidance, answering questions and providing leading prompts to help students work through difficulties. This encourages students to construct their own knowledge and solutions.

What skills do students develop through the POGIL method besides subject knowledge?

Students develop critical skills beyond the subject matter, including teamwork, communication, time management, and self-assessment. They also learn how to form study groups and manage their learning process more independently.

What are the primary phases of the learning cycle in POGIL?

The primary phases of the POGIL learning cycle are exploration, concept invention, and application. This cycle is repeated to reinforce understanding and help students continuously engage with the material in deeper ways.

How do the worksheets in POGIL support student learning?

The worksheets in POGIL are designed to guide students through a process of discovery. They are not just homework problems but carefully structured activities that help students uncover key concepts and build their understanding. The worksheets start with basic questions and progress to more complex ones that require students to apply what they’ve learned.

What benefits does working in groups offer in the POGIL method?

Working in groups provides several benefits, including peer teaching and collaborative problem solving. Students teach each other, clarifying their own understanding and helping others. This dynamic also allows students who may be struggling to find understanding through discussion, and it fosters teamwork and communication skills.

What evidence is there to support the effectiveness of POGIL?

Evidence supporting the effectiveness of POGIL comes from several institutions. For example, Franklin and Marshall College reported a decrease in D, F, and W grades by 12% and an increase in A's and B's over a nine-year period. Data from Virginia Commonwealth University and the speaker’s own experience also showed that students using POGIL retained more information and performed better on exams compared to traditional lecture-based learning.

How does the POGIL method affect student performance on exams?

POGIL has been shown to improve student performance on exams. In one study, students using POGIL had higher exam scores and were less likely to forget material compared to those who experienced traditional lectures. The method has been particularly effective in moving students from failing ranges to passing ranges, improving their understanding and retention.