Clearly defined and measurable goals are commonly considered prerequisites for effective evaluation. Goal setting, however, presents a paradox to evaluators because it takes place at the interface of rationality and values. The objective of this article is to demonstrate a method for unlocking this paradox by making goal setting a process of…

The use of an inquiry framework to support the development of learners' scientific literacy has been supported by research on learning in science and advocated by the major science standards and policy documents. To fully engage in inquiry, however, a wide range of tools, including both activities and texts, must be employed. The successful…

In this article, the author recommends that we consider how inquiry can facilitate the search for a deep politic. Using an epistemology that shifts between education and aesthetics, the search for a deep politic is based on our human potential to interrogate and (re)imagine everyday politics. By doing so, the author argues, it is possible to see…

In the activity described in this article, students will explore how variables in a first-class lever, specifically arm length, position of the fulcrum, and placement of the load, affect the effort needed to lift the load. To begin the lesson, demonstrate to the class how a first-class lever works and review what is meant by the terms fulcrum,…

This paper is an exploration of the ways in which the concept of montage (a principle of film editing developed first by a group of Russian film makers in the 1920s) might be mobilised in support of the teaching of English, in particular the teaching of poetry. I will argue that montage can be used as the basis of a different kind of pedagogy in…

This article presents an exploratory study of e-mail use for reflective narration. Narration is viewed from three perspectives: the narrating act, the narrative statement, and the story. These perspectives are used to characterize the 69 e-mails that were exchanged between 13 groups of children from three primary schools. The findings show that…

An experiment to perform a simple initial investigation that illustrates concepts of speciation and equilibrium, using the instrument and chemical resources in the laboratory is presented. The investigation showed that the presence of multiple chemical species in a reaction mixture (phenol red solution) reflects the acid and base conditions…

As a teacher, Michael Eckert writes that he believes the classroom is the place where he can be most effective in promoting global peace and justice while he teaches students how to write essays and read literature. In part, Eckert's interest in this approach is a response to a challenge issued by Ihab Hassan, and recalled by Mary Rose O'Reilly in…

This paper explores the metaphor of the "teacher as stranger" as a guide for curriculum inquiry. It describes investigations conducted by educators in an introductory curriculum studies course and illustrates the themes revealed in students' lived-curriculum journals. In particular, it examines several journals to document how…

Investigations with Wisconsin Fast Plants can make the subject matter come alive...or dead, depending on the experimental treatment. This became apparent when a university-based teacher educator and a fifth-grade teacher collaborated on a professional development experience aimed at increasing understanding of how science inquiry could be used…

In this article, the authors explore the question, "Does the Moon spin?", and show how the question is investigated. They emphasise the importance of the process by which people work out what they know, by "learning from the inside out." They stress that those involved in science education have to challenge current conceptions and ideas, making…

Policy and practice in child welfare and protection has been significantly influenced by public inquiries or commissions which follow highly publicised child tragedies. Whilst there has been considerable comment on the final reports, there has been little research on the evidence gathered for such inquiries. Large amounts of testimony are…

The author conducted a qualitative research study (Larrotta, 2005) and collected data on the use of inquiry cycles as a pedagogic activity to provide students with opportunities to develop ESL (English as a second language) literacy. The purpose of this paper is to share the author's findings on implementing inquiry cycles in an ESL literacy class…

This article offers an overview of the method of narrative inquiry and explores competing trends in the use of the approach. It not only examines the theories relating to the method but also offers practical guidance on using narrative inquiry, including an exploration of what might count as a narrative and ways of analysing narrative data. The…

This article discusses variance in critical thinking between arts and nonarts undergraduates. Research indicates that inquiry based curricula positively influence critical thinking and that learning in the arts is largely inquiry based. These findings and the study results indicate that learning in the arts positively influences undergraduates'…