Only a few general principles are provided as a foundation for an effective program. However, what is new is the emphasis on human groups as a basis for organizing a single social studies discipline. Some questions are suggested concerning what should be investigated about groups, and what the students need to understand. 1) What causes human…

Unit four of this curriculum plan for ninth grade social studies outlines a study of the automobile industry in the United States. Objectives state the desired generalizations, skills, and attitudes to be developed. A condensed outline of course content precedes expanded guidelines for teaching procedures and suggested resource materials. A…

A rationale for interdisciplinary elementary social studies materials produced and field tested by the Project Social Studies Curriculum Center is presented in this document. World change is taken into account in courses which focus on understanding culture, valuing human dignity, freedom of choice, and the individual. This emphasis leads to the…

The research on effectiveness of college teachers, college teaching, and what is known about how learning takes place is summarized. From the research on what is known about the characteristics of effective college teachers, effective teaching methods, and how students learn, four teaching strategies that college teachers can use are identified.…

Suggestions are offered to help K-12 teachers integrate anthropological approaches and content into the world history curriculum. The paper contains nine inquiry lessons which ask students to explore how the various societies have dealt with kinship, decision making, distribution of resources, transmission of values, and other cultural universals.…

Argues that cookbook chemistry laboratory experiments do little to teach scientific inquiry. Suggests providing students with laboratory experiences that follow the introduction of a concept and challenge students to investigate that concept through an experiment involving very few initial instructions. Lists some such challenges used in chemistry…

Reports on a study designed to describe the extent to which practicing engineers participate in formal and informal learning activities. Suggests that informal methods are used more often than formal methods. Discusses these informal methods and suggests that educators give them more recognition. (TW)

Suggests that elementary school students should be introduced to science research by involving them in group projects. Argues that this type of collaborative approach is more motivating for the students, and produces less anxiety and a better understanding of the steps involved in scientific methodology. (TW)

Reports on a study designed to examine selected units of commonly used elementary science texts, using the Project Synthesis goal clusters as a framework for part of the examination. The discussion of the finding focuses on the comparison of the results to recommendations of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). (TW)

Reports on a study conducted in the Richardson Independent School District (Texas) which was designed to assess the attitudes toward science of students and teachers who have been involved with the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) compared to non-SCIS students and teachers. (TW)

Discussion of the use of computerized databases in classroom instruction focuses on problem solving skills, student attitudes toward computers, and learning processes. A study of eighth graders is described that tested hypotheses involving the comparative analysis of data, and its implications for curriculum development and instructional methods…

Advocates the use of discovery or guided inquiry experiments for developing critical thinking in problem solving. Provides a stepwise method for creating inquiry experiments and provides an example by comparing the two methods for a freezing point experiment. (JM)

Describes design and implementation of an investigative/inquiry-based chemistry curriculum by the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST). Also describes inservice activities to retrain teachers to use the curriculum, equipment, and chemicals. Background information on educational sociology of Thailand is included.…

This book argues that large American high schools have become obsolete and uses case studies of four new or restructured schools to show why smallness and distinctiveness are prerequisites for school reform. The large comprehensive high school developed as an economical means of providing a range of "tracks," from practical subjects for future…

This book is designed for middle school students to learn scientific literacy through event-based science. Unlike traditional curricula, the event-based earth science module is a student-centered, interdisciplinary, inquiry-oriented program that emphasizes cooperative learning, teamwork, independent research, hands-on investigations, and…