Teaching Science Using Discrepant Events to Engage Students

When I was teaching one of my students’ favorite events in science was when they are challenged with discrepant events. So what is a discrepant event?

It is something that surprises, startles, puzzles, or astonishes students as they observe the event.

Often, a discrepant event is one that does not appear to follow basic “rules of nature” and the outcome is unexpected or contrary to what they predicted.

The event throws the students “off balance” intellectually, which typically motivates them to further investigate the science concept - minds-on.

Discrepant events promote problem-solving and critical thinking skills on part of the students. They are typically guided into finding a solution by the teacher, as they discover the reason for the discrepant event.

Using Animal Tracks as a Discrepant Event

How I Used Discrepant Events

I would guide students to answers using open-ended questions, which caused my students to draw upon their prior knowledge and experiences (PKE).

I would begin a new unit or chapter with a discrepant event to stimulate their thinking processes, along with finding out what they already know. Then I would use a culmination event to reinforce science concept(s) studied and as post informal assessment. .

I would present some discrepant events as whole class demonstrations. However, my ultimate goals was to make them group investigations as much as possible.

How are Discrepant Events Used

Discrepant events can be used:

To engage students in inquiry
As a demonstration followed by discussion to introduce a new topic
To engage students in science processes skills
As a small group lab activity
As a mind-on warm-up to stimulate critical thinking
As a take home lab activity
As a challenge for students to create investigative lab activities to find out more about the event