Refining, Operationalizing, and Describing Scientific Inquiry Instructional Practice Using the Inquiry Science Instruction Observation Protocol (ISIOP): A National Field-Test

Under a previous National Science Foundation grant, EDC is developing the Inquiry Science Instruction Observation Protocol (ISIOP). This instrument will help evaluators and researchers determine the nature and extent of scientific inquiry instruction and the best practices used in teaching middle grades science.

The ISIOP Field Test project, a three-year extension of that work, consists of three main activities:

• Develop ISIOP training materials and user’s manual
• Conduct a national field test of ISIOP implementation by practicing evaluators
• Produce and disseminate a set of products to: 1) Support the use of ISIOP for project evaluation activities; 2) Provide specific guidance on how to situate the protocol in a comprehensive evaluation plan