This document presents a sample of the Arkansas science curriculum and identifies the content standards for physical science systems, life science systems, and Earth science/space science systems for eighth grade students. Each content standard is explained and includes student learning expectations, eighth grade benchmarks, assessments, and…

This study examines the mentoring practices of a mentor teacher who was actively engaged in creating an inquiry-focused, year-long internship, noting the intern-mentor dyad's negotiation of a successful learning context as perceived by the intern, the mentor, and a university faculty member. Data collection involved both ethnographic and…

The article presents the Student Interest Unit (SIU) 0-100 (an instructional strategy based on student interest) approach to motivating gifted and talented children. (PHR)

Defines approaches to inquiry-based science teaching and describes many ways in which to conduct this kind of science instruction. Argues that with science reform underway, opportunities exist to transform classrooms into environments with active learners engaged in inquiry. (DDR)

Describes an educational program that asks students to attempt to prove that the earth is spherical and that it rotates. Presents tips to pique student interest and charts related to sensing the spin, nonrotation notions, flat earth fallacies, evidence that the earth is spherical and rotates, and the role of watersheds in proving that the earth…

Discusses language across the curriculum movement and its impact on current social studies teaching. Asserts that social studies as a form of literacy means being able to understand the world from multiple perspectives. Recommends that social studies teachers implement inquiry and language principles across the curriculum. (CFR)

Examines the importance of learning environments as sites for change in science education, describing work with elementary teachers in which researchers are designing learning environments featuring guided inquiry. After explaining how to plan and enact guided inquiry instruction in science, the paper reflects on experiences implementing it in…

Investigates the question concerning the maximum number of lines of symmetry possessed by irregular polygons. Gives examples to illustrate and justify the generalization that the number of lines of symmetry equals the largest proper divisor of the number of sides. Suggests related classroom activities. (MDH)

Described is an activity that categorizes a two-digit number as "sneaky" if the continued process of taking the difference of the squares of its digits leads to a difference of zero. Other categorizations are determined by whether the difference process ends in a one-digit number or continues in a loop of numbers. (MDH)

Reports on a study of the views of teachers and staff on the introduction of individual investigative work into the precollege, advanced-level chemistry courses in Great Britain. Contains 21 references. (DDR)

Describes the design of a biochemistry course that uses problem-based learning. Provides opportunities for students to question, dispute, confirm, and disconfirm their understanding of basic concepts. Emphasizes self-correction through dialogue. Topics covered include amino acids, metabolic pathways and inherited disease, proteins, enzymes and…

Examines those theories of learning that have laid the groundwork for classroom approaches that encourage students to become active learners. Summarizes the National Science Education Standards (NCES) Teaching Standards B. (DDR)

Focuses on how faculty members in one university department used the problem formulation phase of deliberative inquiry to assess future needs for their human resource development (HRD) specialization. Overviews the research methodology of deliberative inquiry. Describes the systematic approach--subject matter analysis--that was used to structure…

This paper stems from the ESRC TLRP Learning How to Learn--in Classrooms, Schools and Networks Project, and explores how Assessment for Learning (AfL) relates, conceptually, to learning how to learn (LHTL). The term LHTL was intended to draw attention to a primary focus on learning practices, and we have related the processes of AfL to LHTL. A…

The momentum gathering behind authentic learning/critical skills raises fundamental issues concerning teaching and learning. This article discusses some of the more general arguments surrounding authentic learning with particular reference to an in-depth evaluation of its impact on schools in one part of Great Britain. It then moves on to describe…