Examines students' roles during a long-term collaborative task that required mastering complex sets of cognitive, regulatory, and social skills needed for building knowledge largely from their own and their peers' ideas and observations. Describes the eight prominent sociocognitive roles that emerged from the study. Contains 61 references.…

During the 1970s, the curriculum field underwent a "reconceptualization," shifting from commitment to developing curriculum toward interest in understanding curriculum. This article presents an alternative rationale: disillusionment with traditional institutions/preoccupation with private interests, fascination with "interesting…

Briefly describes an ecology course for gifted high school students which focuses on human relationships to the environment and encourages student questioning. (DB)

Describes the learning spiral, which was designed as a framework for instructional planning. Grounded in constructivism, the learning spiral attempts to align learning experiences at school with learning experiences in life. The components of the learning spiral are engage, investigate, share, and assess. The learning spiral is recursive, and it…

Concludes this journal focus section on curriculum integration with transcripts of questions asked by conference attendees and answers by Professors Beane and George. Areas addressed included experience levels with children and teachers, studies that point to the failure of curriculum integration, and how teachers can continue curriculum…

Describes an open-ended investigation in which students have to look into a feature of lens performance that is not commonly found in textbook materials on optics. Presents explanations and sample results. (WRM)

Argues that Deweyan philosophical pragmatism does not share the radical ontological and epistemological theses that are common elements of constructivism, demonstrating that the Deweyan-pragmatic perspective is one that is ontologically realist and requires a correspondence of truth. The paper concludes that Deweyan pragmatism is neither a version…

Inquiry cultivates epistemological maturity, as students consider what characterizes meaningful questions, attempt different investigative methods, and seek acceptable answers. The Web has six compatible features: specialized information matching students' interests; diverse topics to prompt student-generated questions; multiple perspectives on…

Many cherished school curriculum units are intellectually weak and fragmented because of confusion about what students are supposed to learn. A key component missing from curriculum design is the guiding question--the fundamental query directing the search for understanding. Such questions are neither leading nor generic but are succinct,…

Argues for a more flexible approach to teaching the scientific method in elementary schools. Recognizes the nonsequential nature of students' thinking when they have been engaged and excited by a topic of inquiry. (DDR)

Presents the results of an undergraduate researcher survey which aims to determine the properties of a successful mentor. Includes a list of suggestions and tips for a successful undergraduate mentoring experience. (YDS)

Describes the development of a community of inquiry within an elementary teacher education program, examining conceptual tensions arising from the various understandings participants had of community and inquiry. Instructors viewed inquiry as the central purpose of community. Some students considered mutual support paramount, and others believed…

Follows a four-year journey of the Center for Inquiry as teachers, administrators, and university partners engage in professional inquiry. Describes evolution of processes that have challenged and validated professional development within the culture of inquiry. Notes the Richland School District Two/University of South Carolina partnership was…

Describes a method used to teach the concept of geologic time to introductory geology students using an inquiry-based approach. Students work in teams to obtain rock samples that are used to interpret the geologic history of a region. (SAH)

Describes a set of laboratory activities in which students construct a model for the relationship between potential difference (measured in volts) and current (measured in amperes) in a DC circuit with a single resistor. (SAH)