Promoting problem-solving in students is an important aim of secondary science education. There is a mismatch, however, between the complex, ill-structured nature of realistic scientific problems, versus the well-structured problems students are generally confronted with. The current study investigates a teaching-learning strategy that resolves…

How students ask questions as they learn has implications for understanding, retention, and problem solving. The current research investigates the influence of domain, age, and previous experience with content on the ways students approach questioning across history and science texts. In 3 experiments, 3rd-, 8th-, and 10th-grade students in large…

Assessment for Learning (AfL)--assessment that focuses on the gap between present performance and the desired goal--is integral to teaching and learning, and its importance has been recognised over a number of years. With the new status of science assessment in England, following the changes to key stage testing, a research team at the National…

Pedagogical strategies have been experimentally applied in large-enrollment biology courses in an attempt to amplify what teachers do best in effecting deep learning, thus more closely approximating a one-on-one interaction with students. Carefully orchestrated in-class formative assessments were conducted to provide frequent, high-quality…

Examines the generalizability of selective-attention and academic-studying hypotheses to a modified science chart medium. Describes the questions designed to selectively focus students' attention on specific columns in a modified science chart, with the goal of improving student achievement on a test measuring learning of content contained in…

Often, students repeat the mistakes they have made in answering exam questions, even after classroom discussion of their errors. They do not appear to have "learned from their mistakes". One possible solution is to guide students through a more active process of addressing their mistakes. We will describe a classroom study focused on the…

Details a study of secondary science teachers (N=8) and their questioning strategies. Identifies and describes commonly used teacher responses to student questions in the secondary science classroom. Contains 39 references. (DDR)

Presents the results of a study on questions invoked to correct declarative knowledge deficits while readers processed science texts explaining natural phenomena. Focuses on finding out what kind of questions are asked by students who read these texts and how task demand influences the quantity and quality of formulated questions. (Contains 42…

Explores the differences between deep and surface approaches to learning science. Findings indicate that the deep-surface learning differences fall into five categories: (1) generative thinking; (2) nature of explanations; (3) asking questions; (4) metacognitive activity; and (5) approach to tasks. Suggests that teachers can encourage a deep…

Discusses the role that children's ideas and questions have in learning science. Explains four techniques which aim to promote primary students' question-asking. Also suggests specific approaches that were developed in the Learning in Science Project to assist teachers in making use of children's questions. (ML)

This book presents a collection of essays on building collaborative communities in which democratic principles of education may be recognized, focusing on learning and teaching through inquiry. After (1) "The Development of a Community of Inquirers" (Gordon Wells), there are three parts. Part 1, "Inquiries in the Elementary…

Describes a teaching technique based on using children's questions as a formative and summative assessment tool with emphasis placed on children's answers as well as their questions. Children's explanations clearly show their thinking. Eliciting further explanations allows children to look deep into their understanding and construct meanings for…

Discusses some scaffolds or prompts for helping students to ask themselves better questions about science topics. Presents some teacher questions that test and develop some core thinking skills. (PR)

An alternative approach for teaching primary school science has been proposed by the Learning in Science Project (Primary--LISP(P). This study investigated the use of the approach during three series of lessons on the topic "metals." Each series followed the same general pattern: (1) an introductory session to stimulate children to ask…

The stand taken in the Learning in Science Project (Primary)--LISP(P)--is that primary school science should be centrally concerned with children's present interaction with their world rather than their future science education. Further, it has been decided that one of the LISP(P) foci should be on questions that children ask and how these…