For more than a decade, there has been a call for reform in science education. This effort stresses the creation of a scientifically literate population. Required in this effort to create a more scientifically literate populace is an understanding of the Nature of Science (NOS) on the part of the average citizen. This call for reform recognizes…

This book explores individual cognitive processes and the psychology of scientific discovery. Nine studies are presented that investigate childrens' and adults' attempts to make scientific discoveries from a theoretical perspective. Contents include: (1) "Investigating Scientific Thinking: Why and How"; (2) "Scientific Discovery as Problem…

The development of a scientifically literate society is dependent upon effective communication. Accordingly, the Benchmarks for Science Literacy, which defines science literacy goals for United States students K-12, contains an entire section on communication skills. One of the skills described in the Benchmarks is that "students should be able to…

This paper provides a critical analysis of a professional development model that proposes to improve inquiry science instruction by addressing two components of teacher knowledge: pedagogy and science content. Although this represents an improvement over professional development models that focus on a single area of teacher knowledge, this paper…

This study compared preservice teachers' beliefs (taken from journal reflections) about inquiry before, during, and after their field placement experiences. The subjects of the study were preservice students (n=48) enrolled in an elementary science methods course at a large midwestern university during the spring semester of 2001. Most of the…

WebQuests have become a popular form of guided inquiry using Web resources. The goal of WebQuests is to help students think and reason at higher levels,and use information to solve problems. This paper presents modifications to the WebQuest model drawing on primarily on schema theory. It is believed that these changes will further enhance student…

An inquiry approach to learning is a process whereby students explore, investigate, search for information, discover and seek solutions without much guidance from the teacher in an open classroom environment. Inquiry teaching is not the only method that can be used in the classroom. Unlike other instructional methods, inquiry does involve students…

This book explains how to develop a research workshop, demonstrating how children's interests and questions can become the central focus of the curriculum and offering dozens of techniques for organizing the classroom and the school day to support student research. The book also provides guidelines for finding a wide range of resources, fostering…

This document contains the papers presented at the Redesign in Science Education (RISE) Conference. Papers include: (1) "A Model Development Concept (MDC) for Education: A Framework for Change" (C. K. Barsky, K. G. Wilson, and B. Daviss); (2) "Teaching Science Everyday" (K. L. Scott); (3) "Science Teacher Licensure…

Sequential plans that focus on a topic for grades three, five, and eight are presented. (Author/RM)

The potential of the new social studies is seen as helping teachers in the inner-city in guiding students to utilize an analytical process in problem solving and establishing a classroom atmosphere fostering the process of critical inquiry. (Author/KM)

This article describes in detail how the inquiry teacher performs in the classroom and what the possible alternatives in the process are. The major goal is to clarify the components of inquiry teaching and to indicate the exact junctures where major decisions need to be made. The operations subsumed under instructional decision are spelled out and…

An inquiry-based study unit for junior high grades is designed as an introduction to the study of race relations in America. The objectives include helping students understand how ethnocentric and prejudiced attitudes develop, and why it is so difficult to overcome them. (SM)

Eleventh grade inquiry oriented history units which require students to deal with primary source materials are evaluated in this article. (SM)