WISE: Web-based Inquiry Science Environment

Web-Based Inquiry Science Environment (WISE)
All WISE units are research-tested and aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards. Each unit is designed according to the knowledge integration perspective on learning and instruction. The units include dynamic, interactive models, automated scoring and guidance, hands-on design projects, and teacher tools for giving comments to students, tracking progress, and assigning scores if desired. WISE resources are free and open source at wise.berkeley.edu

The WISE team is working directly with teachers to customize existing WISE units for their students.  We are hosting weekly office hours on Zoom, facilitating teachers to collaborate on strategies for customizing WISE to create their own instruction, and supporting students and families with WISE via phone, Zoom, text, email, and conventional mail. 

Virtual WISE workshop: Customizing and creating units for distance learning
We provide a virtual workshop for customizing WISE units for distance learning. In the workshop, teachers are supported to articulate their learning goals and student learning needs; and review and select a WISE unit to customize or choose to create a new unit using web-based resources. Teachers are then guided through use of the WISE authoring tools to customize or create a unit for their students. The customization approach enables teachers to personalize research-tested curriculum for their classroom. It also supports teachers to develop a community of partners using WISE with whom they can share customized units and teaching tips. The workshop can be adapted to fit school needs. 

Sample WISE Units and Descriptions: 
(All units are available at wise.berkeley.edu)

  • Global Climate Change: Climate Action Plan Project 
    Students learn how energy from the Sun warms the Earth and use models to investigate which human activities contribute to global warming. Students make predictions, engage with interactive simulations, and receive automated feedback to help them revise. Teachers can comment on student work and create online discussions for student interaction.  Lesson plan link
    Grade Levels: 6th, possibly 8th
    Disciplines: Physical Science
  • Solar Ovens 
    Students design, build, and test solar ovens. They critique and refine their own and their peers’ designs. Students learn about how energy is transformed from solar radiation to heat and infrared radiation.
    Grade Levels: 6th, possibly 8th
    Disciplines: Physical Science, Engineering
  • Thermodynamics: Understanding Heat and Temperature
    Students explore the concepts of temperature and heat energy transfer, using interactive virtual models to investigate the rate of conduction in different materials and thermal equilibrium.
    Grade Levels: 6th, possibly 8th
    Discipline: Physical Science
  • Thermodynamics Challenge 
    Using an interactive experimentation model, students collect and analyze graphical data to determine the best material for insulating a cold or hot beverage.
    Grade Levels: 6th, possibly 8th
    Disciplines: Physical Science, Engineering
  • Chemical Reactions: Alternative Fuels
    Using dynamic graphs, computer models, and drawings students investigate the chemical reaction of gasoline combustion. Then, using a virtual experiment, students explore the greenhouse effect and how it is impacted by gasoline combustion and greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, students use a virtual experiment to investigate alternative fuel solutions and their impact on greenhouse gas emissions, global temperature, and cost to produce. Throughout the project students use evidence from the models, graphs, and experiments to compose an evidence rich letter to the President on how gasoline combustion impacts global climate and recommend a solution. 
    Grade Level: 7th
    Disciplines: Physical and Earth Science
  • Photosynthesis, Cellular Respiration & Ecosystems
    In this 4-lesson series students use real world data to understand the factors that support plant and animal life, using Biosphere 2 as an anchoring phenomenon. Students learn about and model the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration, and ecosystems. They explore and interpret data related to the reintroduction of wolf into Yellowstone National Park to argue for a restoration plan to increase the beaver population in the park.
    Grade Level: 7th
    Discipline: Life Science
  • Plate Tectonics: How do earthquakes, mountains and volcanoes form? 
    Students begin by analyzing plate boundaries, seismology, topography and volcanology maps to investigate, Why are there so many earthquakes, mountains and volcanoes on the west coast? Students then use graphs and dynamic visualizations to explore the density of plate types and how this influences the interactions at boundaries. Students then use videos and graphs to explore convection and its role in plate movement. Throughout the project students write and revise short essays using automated, adaptive guidance. 
    Grade Level: 7th
    Discipline: Earth Science
  • How can we recycle old tires?: Using dynamic graphs, computer models, and drawings students investigate the chemical reaction of gasoline combustion
    Then, using a virtual experiment, students explore the greenhouse effect and how it is impacted by gasoline combustion and greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, students use a virtual experiment to investigate alternative fuel solutions and their impact on greenhouse gas emissions, global temperature, and cost to produce. Throughout the project students use evidence from the models, graphs, and experiments to compose an evidence rich letter to the President on how gasoline combustion impacts global climate and recommend a solution
    Grade Level: 7th, HS
    Discipline: Physical Science
  • Genetics of Extinction
    Students explore natural selection and evolution, starting from basic genetic inheritance and mutations, up through modern day extinctions. They examine how genetics relates to biodiversity.
    Grade Level: 8th 
    Discipline: Life Science
    Graphing Stories
    Students are introduced to various types of graphs used in science. They construct, interpret, and critique position-time graphs and scatter plots to learn how data is visualized. Students then design a roller-coaster that is either thrilling or safe using graphs with varying slopes, and test their design!
    Grade Level: 8th 
    Discipline: Physical Science
  • Musical Instruments and the Physics of Sound Waves
    Students learn how sound waves are created and that they need a medium through which to be transmitted. Students use models and test their predictions to understand how frequency, amplitude, wavelength, and pitch relate and change when sound travels through different materials. Teachers can comment on student work.  
    Grade Level: 8th
    Disciplines: Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science / Physical Sciences
  • Newton Scooters
    Scooters guides students to design, build, test, and refine a self-propelled vehicle. The unit features investigations using scooters powered by elastic potential energy from rubber bands or balloons. Students explore scientific concepts related to energy and movement (potential, kinetic, and thermal energy; energy transformations and conservation) within a virtual experiment to iteratively improve their scooters.
    Grade Level: 8th 
    Discipline: Physical Science
  • Mitosis: What makes a good cancer medicine? 
    Students learn about the stages of mitosis and associated cell structures in the context of developing medicine to treat cancer.
    Grade Level: HS
    Discipline: Life Science