The National Research Council's recent publication "A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas" (NRC 2011), which is the foundation for the Next Generation Science Standards now being developed, places unprecedented focus on the practices involved in doing scientific and engineering work. In an effort…

Describes a project at the Corvallis High School in rural Montana that combines three educational reforms--inclusion of students with diverse academic needs, inquiry-based teaching techniques, and instructional strategies for learning. Discusses project outcomes, including student achievement levels, student attitudes, and student expectations.…

Focuses on the curriculum movement. Discusses the educational conditions under which new courses would be developed. Explains the differences between the new science courses and traditional courses. First published in 1962. (YDS)

Inquiry instruction is a hallmark of the current science education reform efforts. Science teachers know that inquiry is important, yet most teachers lack a practical framework of inquiry to inform their instruction. Defining inquiry and assessing how much inquiry is supported by a particular activity or lab can be difficult and confusing. This…

Discusses the ninth-grade trial implementation of the Scope, Sequence, and Coordination (SS&C) project and compares this class with the non-SS&C class that preceded it. Reports that the project helped teachers create a more inquiry-oriented learning environment and helped students perform at least as well as non-SS&C students on…

Describes multicultural education and lists its basic premises. Explains the importance of science teachers' attitudes in learning. First published in 1993. (YDS)