Brainball: Teaching Inquiry Science as a Team Sport (Hardback)

Combining the best perspectives from two worlds--team sports and science classrooms--Brainball offers a fresh perspective on the learning and teaching of science. The authors contend that not unlike real science, games are the transformation of theory into practice; they require a clear goal, are dynamic, and yet have a clear set of rules. The ultimate aim of the so-called game is science learning, and Brainball is a teaching methodology that embraces the complexity of science education and brings it to life. Sections 2 and 3, along with the numerous appendixes, will appeal to novice teachers, as they offer straightforward guidance, including a chapter on assessment along with series of lesson plans that present a scripted narrative to help instructors immediately bring these ideas to the classroom setting. . . .[T]his one offers easily accessible, down-to-earth strategies for science teachers across the K-12 continuum. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate, research, and professional collections. * CHOICE *
I love all of the different viewpoints: professor, teacher, and student. This made the book practical, rather than so many other theoretical education-related books. I thought the book had a very nice flow to it - professional when needed, yet candid at times to give my mind a break. This book forces you to think about the fundamentals of teaching and learning and makes science inquiry seem simple and practical, with the added lessons in the final chapter (great idea, keeps the skeptics at bay). Brainball (Science Edition) is an easy read with many "ah ha" moments along the way. I highly recommend this for any high school or middle school science teacher, school administrator, or curriculum leader. -- Dan Peggs, science teacher, Chippewa Falls Middle School, Wisconsin
I wholeheartedly agree with the trajectory of the book, which in my view seeks to prepare teachers to teach in ways that foster what is indeed meaningful learning. This project has in mind the betterment of people (and thus society), and I am invigorated as an educator by this emphasis. The writing is also organized to partner philosophical vision with practical descriptions of what such a vision would look like in the classroom. Without such an emphasis, convincing people to change their practice is (understandably) a distant long shot....I found [the writing style] to be accessible and entertaining. -- Crystal Bruxvoort, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, Calvin College, Michigan
Brainball is a purposeful and process-driven set of teaching strategies that gets kids to take on the role of being a scientist. The book focuses on creating experiences for science students to "problem notice and problem solve" through a specific set of processes. Lessons in Brainball challenge students to be creative, share their ideas, strategize procedures, analyze data, and reflect on their learning. This book is also an excellent resource to help guide teachers in intentionally planning to get students to develop positive dispositions, collaborative teams, and supportive communities where everyone contributes and everyone has a role. -- Aarika Capra, teacher of biology and honors anatomy and physiology, Brighton High School, Colorado