Assesses the conceptual change of teachers who have been involved in the development, implementation, field testing, and evaluation of several modules. Points out that the intrinsic nature of the STEMS (Science-Technology-Environment-Society) curriculum requires that the teachers who teach it also be the developers of its modules. (Contains 48…

Argues that appropriate use of technology lies in supplemental instruction intended to complement classroom activities, not replace them. Favors the use of inquiry, discussions, and cooperative learning methods in higher education. (Contains 53 references.) (ASK)

Revisits the comments made in "Statement of Purposes and Style for Manuscripts" and "From the Editors" in the first issue (Volume 1, Number 1, 1973) of "Theory and Research in Social Education." Focuses on the conception of social studies education and its professional orientation. (CMK)

Compares a group of expert cancer researchers with four groups of fourth year medical students (the "novice" groups) engaged in the task of designing a clinical trial to test a new cancer drug using a computer-based modeling tool, the Oncology Thinking Cap. (Contains 24 references.) (Author/YDS)

Introduces a tornado tube activity to develop understanding of an environmental phenomena. Uses an inquiry-based, hands on science approach. (Contains 24 references.) (YDS)

Discusses challenges facing teacher librarians to plan a future for the information-knowledge environments in schools and suggests that action and evidence-based, learning-centered practice focusing on a constructivist inquiry approach are important. Topics include perceived lack of support and understanding; funding; professional development; a…

Discusses the roles of children's effective learning experiences and teacher professional development on academic achievement. Explains TERC's role in enhancing education. (YDS)

Describes a summer research program at James Madison University targeting deaf and hard-of-hearing students and teachers participating in and collaborating on chemistry research with hearing students and teachers. (Contains 18 references.) (YDS)

Examines the kinds of inquiry fourth-grade children accomplished in a cross-curricular unit involving various kinds of texts. Identifies the circumstances that accompany the best examples of student thought, talk, and questions. Describes procedures used as well as the talk that accompanied each type of text (biography, historical fiction, and…

A good question is one of the most important tools in a staff developer's repertoire. Questions that cause thinking can produce more learning than telling. This paper describes how to develop questioning skills using word banks and scaffolds. It explains why mediative questions are important and which mediative questions are the most valuable. (SM)

This case study examined how elementary teachers reacted to uncertainties inherent in a language arts reform effort. Results found that teachers fell along a continuum in their willingness to tolerate and use uncertainty within language arts reform as a springboard for thoughtful, probing inquiry. Overall, teachers demonstrated a growing…

Explains why being able to use the latest electronic technologies has everything to do with being literate. Argues that hypermedia design has particular strengths that help to support student literacy development. Shows how hypermedia design is easily adaptable into current school structures and constraints. Describes how students in a design…

Presents a framework developed for the Library of Congress staff of the Social Science Education Consortium for using primary sources with students. Offers a brief rationale for using primary sources in the classroom, gives suggestions for using such sources in various phases of instruction, and provides a list of Web sites containing primary…

Investigated preservice teachers' thinking on research, considering how it might inform approaches to inquiry-oriented teacher education. Surveys and interviews with preservice teachers involved in inquiry-oriented programs indicated that the programs only modestly influenced their thinking about research. To have more influence, goals must be…

Introduces an interdisciplinary undergraduate course on space physics based on history. Presents a contextual overview of space physics. (Contains 16 references.) (YDS)