This qualitative study examined how a methods class focusing on beliefs about teaching for democracy in a diverse society influences the beliefs and pedagogical decision making of a group of preservice teachers. This inquiry, a 2-year study of preservice social studies teachers, encompassed their social studies methods course, student teaching…

This paper explores the reform content and specific teacher learning conditions that enabled teachers at an urban California elementary school to find ways to examine the effects of their practices on students and to reflect on the values and beliefs underlying their practices. Over 5 years, a professional culture of inquiry developed, as required…

This study was designed to examine preservice elementary teachers' beliefs about the nature of science, document changes in these beliefs over the duration of a year-long science methods course and embedded teaching practicum, and assess the impact of these beliefs on their classroom practice (Bright, 2001). The pre-test and post-test case study…

This curriculum supplement guide brings the latest medical discoveries to classrooms. This module focuses on the objectives of introducing students to major concepts related to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, and developing an understanding of the relationship between biomedical research and personal and public health. This module…

This book targets students who are going to be K-12 teachers and points out the responsibilities that both science and education faculty members face. These responsibilities not only include providing fundamental information and skills related to teaching, but also mentoring teachers to reflect their understanding. The National Science Education…

This paper focuses on the potential value of cultural myths in maintaining the notion of science for all through educational reform. Cultural myths are defined as networks of beliefs and values, and they have the potential of influencing science and science education. Not until recently did educators realize the importance of myths and their…

This paper is a part of a research program whose purpose it is to design instruction for scaffolding classroom inquiry in middle school classrooms. Scaffolding is a dynamic process, reflecting teacher adjustments based on student responses. Even though a computer, textbook, or laboratory materials may serve as proxy for a "teacher", arguably the…

The purpose of this study was to describe the depth and accuracy of sixth grade students' content understanding as a result of engaging in information seeking activities using Web-based resources in the University of Michigan's Digital Library. Eight student pairs received scaffolded pedagogical support from classroom teachers while completing…

This question, first formulated in 1780, is answered in high school history classes to gain a new perspective on America and its role in history. (KM)

Identifies and discusses developments in learning theory that are of particular interest to science teachers. Emphasizes the importance of inquiry learning in facilitating intellectural growth whcih may otherwise be retarded by a classroom environment that does not provide opportunities for the student to investigate, probe, discuss and question.…

Studied performance of 15 low-socio-economic-status 14 year olds in learning controlled-experiment design and evaluation, and indicated that experimental subjects significantly outperformed matched controls. (CC)

Discusses computer programs which encourage thinking. The programs, called "artificial intuition," ask questions based on three systems of inquiry, in particular, the heuristics of Aristotle's topics, Kenneth Burke's dramatistic pentad, and the tagmemic matrix. Also discusses research related to these programs and provides examples of…

Textbooks play a major role in influencing children's beliefs and attitudes about subjects. Textbook coverage of evolution is analyzed to demonstrate that textbooks could be responsible for implanting in children the distorted perception that science is infallible. (Author/IS)