The evaluation of inquiry-based science education activities

[Resumo] Co fin de pescudar si os alumnos alcanzaron os obxectivos establecidos nunha actividade de educación ambiental, temos que recorrer á avaliación, unha tarefa complicada pero necesaria. En ocasións, en contornas de aprendizaxe non formal, a avaliación non se leva a cabo ou se realiza moi someramente. Entre as principais causas identificadas atópanse a falta de formación dos educadores sobre temas de avaliación ou á falta de tempo, xa que os alumnos que visitan os centros de educación ambiental non o fan de xeito continuado, senón de xeito ocasional, polo que o seguimiento do seu progreso con vértese nunha ardua tare fa. Ao contrario, existen varios métodos exitosos aplicables a actividades baseadas na indagación en contornas de educación non formal. A través do Proxecto Europeo INQUIRE, cuxo obxectivo foi estender o Ensino das Ciencias Baseada na Indagación a través de Europa, puxéronse en práctica algúns destes métodos de avaliación: mapas conceptuais, mapas mentais, debuxos conceptuais, cuestionarios, observación e preguntas directas. [Abstract] In order to determine whether students met the objectives set out in a lesson plan we have to make use of the evaluation, a complex but essential task. Occasionally, in “Learning Outside the Classroom” (LOtC) environments, assessment is not carried out or performed very briefly. The main causes identified were lack of training on assessment from educators and the lack of time, since students visiting environmental education centres do it only sporadically, so tracking their progress becomes an arduous task. On the contrary, there are several applicable methods to successfully assess inquiry-based activities in LOtC environments. Through the European INQUIRE Project, whose aim has been to extend Inquiry-Based Science Education across Europe, we have implemented some of these assessment methods: such as concept maps, mind maps, concept cartoons, questionnaires, observation and direct questions