What should we do with our brightest and best? Neal Watkin and Johannes Ahrenfelt suggest an enquiry for a very high ability Year 8 group which is both challenging and genuinely historical. The enquiry itself has cross-curricular elements within its historical framework: it draws on geography, sociology and citizenship. This should not distract us…

In two, linked articles, appearing in this and the next edition, Maria Osowiecki shares an account of a five-lesson enquiry, based on the concept of historical significance (National Curriculum Key Element 2e) for mixed ability Year 8. She wanted to experiment with an array of creative teaching techniques that would appeal to a wide range of…

The implementation of inquiry-based teaching is a major theme in national science education reform documents such as "Project 2061: Science for All Americans" (Rutherford & Alhgren, 1990) and the "National Science Education Standards" (NRC, 1996). These reports argue that inquiry needs to be a central strategy of all…

The development of critical ability, or cognitive criticism, is being studied in a two-year Swedish project described in this progress report. Cognitive criticism is valuable in all occupational fields, but especially futurology and technology assessment. This project proposes to make concrete the aims of critical training, and to identify and…

This publication is designed for educators, researchers, and students in both school and university audiences. In an effort to give a more in-depth analysis of the Inquiry Type Science Curricula, this publication defines its terms, describes goals and objectives of modern science curricula, gives a history of, reasons for, and description of…

Reports a study which reinforces the assumption that objectives enable learners to retain essential points and to organize complex cognitive processes needed for successful inquiry-oriented learning experiences. Results that knowledge of science processes (POST Scores) contributes more to achievement variance than the use of behavioral objectives.…

From a special report, "What's New in Curriculum.

A series of classroom practices and techniques are provided to help classroom teachers overcome their anxiety in teaching science. Chapter 1 (Fearing the Unknown) focuses on reasons for teaching science in elementary grades, science processes, characteristics of inquiry, questioning and inquiry, and using small groups. Chapter 2 (Managing…

Transcripts of three conversations on liberal education, recorded at a 1977 conference at St. John's College, Santa Fe, are presented. The idea that great books are the best instruments for liberal education is addressed, and it is suggested that great books demonstrate to the student what is possible in the way of inquiry and expression, and that…

This issue of "Investigations in Science Education" contains 9 articles related to teacher education and a single study reporting the investigation of questioning styles used in high school biology textbooks. Each abstract, written by a science educator, includes bibliographical data, research design and procedure, purpose, research rationale, and…

A four-part heuristic model seeks to enhance teacher and student-writer awareness of the significance of the self as writer. The questions in the heuristic examine the relationships between the self and the self as writer, between the self and the subject matter, between the self and the audience, and between the self and the form of the…

THIS PROJECT CONSISTED OF DEVELOPING AND TESTING MATERIALS DESIGNED TO TEACH THE PROCESSES OF SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY TO BEGINNING BIOLOGY STUDENTS. MATERIALS CALLED "SPRINGBOARDS FOR DISCUSSION" AND DESIGNED FOR PRESENTATION BY USING THE OVERHEAD PROJECTOR AND MAGNETIC TAPES WERE USED IN INSTRUCTION. MATERIALS OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES WERE…

A sharing period in the first grade can provide children with many opportunities for developing both personally and educationally (e.g., becoming aware of others' attitudes and expressing themselves orally). Moreover, much can be learned by the teacher about students' interests, needs, and abilities when they are encouraged to "brainstorm" such…