Studied the effect of classroom verbal interactions between teachers and students on the development of skills important in process-oriented elementary science curricula. Both suburban and inner-city sixth-grade students increased their ability to infer when they were exposed to a probing, rather than a nonprobing, discussion strategy. (MLH)

Describes a study in which the attitudes of preservice elementary school teachers are measured before and after their enrollment in an elementary science methods course. Students were found to have significantly higher attitudes toward inquiry strategies after completion of the course. (CP)

Describes a program to prepare inservice elementary school teachers in the subject matter and reasoning skills needed to teach science as a process of inquiry. Included is a procedure for introducing experience-oriented curricula into the schools. (Author/CP)

Investigates the effect of using broadcast ITV to teach inquiry-oriented science lessons upon the criteria of selected verbal behaviors of K-3 teachers and students. (GA)

Fifty-nine secondary school physics students were assigned to treatment groups: (1) Project Physics units, (2) Project Physics and verbal learning unit, and (3) a training program in scientific inquiry. Posttest results revealed that, on most aspects of a science inquiry test, treatments 2 and 3 had significantly greater effect on achievement than…

Investigates the consequences of inquiry and didactic teaching when students either cooperate or compete with each other on (a) students' acceptance of the teaching method, (b) their approval of the teacher, (c) their experience of peer support, and (d) their beliefs that they have learned. Eighty fourth and fifth grade students were randomly…

Educational innovations are frequently undertaken with little or no planning. There are occasions, however, when it is possible to define educational problems with some precision and to plan changes which will "solve" these problems. Here is a report on such a case in the teaching of introductory anthropology at a large land-grant university.…

Sets forth diagramatic representations of the four art disciplines (aesthetics, criticism, history, production) as a basis for devising a discipline-based art curriculum. Provides an example of an inquiry framework to guide the planning and application of instruction. (AEM)

This article reviews current efforts at educational reform in light of what is required to help teaching become more characterized by the spirit, processes, and products of systematic inquiry. Practitioner inquiry is defined, its importance is discussed, and the structural implications of teaching as inquiry are considered. (TE)

To more carefully define the nature of thinking in social studies, this article examines shared features and teaching procedures of three alternative approaches to instruction for thinking: reflective thinking, inquiry, and critical thinking. Discusses the emerging field of cognitive science and draws implications for improving traditional…

States that developing the ability to think is the primary goal of social studies education. Examines the renewed attention that is being focused on this skill. Reviews the inquiry method, questioning, and discussion as means of promoting thinking in the classroom. (GEA)

This exercise shows how to turn the expository treatment of a topic or event into a mystery or puzzling situation that students are asked to solve. Once a puzzle is presented, students may pose only questions that can be answered yes or no. Three sample lessons are included to illustrate the process. (JDH)

Describes an approach for including social issues in United States history classes. Provides examples of how specific issues were integrated with common course topics. (JDH)

This article shows how to convert expository textbook material into puzzling mysteries for students. The five-step instructional process is illustrated with two sample lessons. Includes student handouts. (JDH)

Provides an inquiry lesson on aging for the intermediate grades. The goals of the lesson are to provide accurate information about the elderly, to enable children to assess their perceptions of the aging process, and to expose children to an unbiased look at the attributes, behaviors, and characteristics of the elderly. (JDH)