In recent years researchers have had a keen interest in scientific misconceptions and conceptual change. This paper describes approaches that can be used to provide a greater understanding of how students understand reality. The objective is to map belief space or terrain of belief regarding nature, i.e., to map the qualitatively different…

With the aim of relating reading with wider social action, this paper discusses the macro-cloze procedure for reading a novel, which promotes social interaction while reading and helps develop students' ability to predict, ask questions, and summarize. The paper includes a brief rationale for the procedure (in which each small group of students…

Students must have uninterrupted periods of time to process information, to reflect on what has been said, observed, or done, and to consider what their personal responses will be. After at least three seconds of uninterrupted silence, a significant number of positive outcomes occur for students and teachers. Students are more effective in…

This book offers a collection of essays on teaching, written by teachers who, though they represent high school to professional school levels and diverse fields of interest, favor teaching by discussion. Part I introduces key principles in "Barriers and Gateways to Learning" (David A. Garvin) and "Premises and Practices of Discussion Teaching" (C.…

Precipitation data for Macomb (Illinois) for the period 1912-1981 were the bases for developing classroom exercises that offered college students experience in collecting such data. After students collected the data, they reduced them to manageable proportions, and then examined average long-term relations which may have emerged among yearly,…

These tips on surveying public opinion are based on the contention that community surveys can be useful to educators who want to know what the community is thinking about education, are ready to respond, and have no qualms about making survey results public. The author first discusses the importance of determination of the community survey's…

This study sought to determine if logical relationships that have been clearly established in textual terms can be presented equivalently in diagrams, and, if so, what the effect might be on student comprehension when diagram technology is employed together with instructive questions. Participants in the study were 129 college students randomly…

Stressing that teachers must consider not only the quality and amount of content in their questions, but must also consider the levels and types of questions being asked, as well as design appropriate modeling, cueing, and responding strategies, this document outlines current research on questioning techniques for classroom use. The role of…

The power of inquiry teaching is demonstrated as a way in which learning can be transformed from a passive process to a dynamic, enjoyable adventure. Using anecdotes, conversations, and letters, the book describes the application of the inquiry methodology. In addition, guidelines for selecting topics for discussion are included, as well as hints…

A study examined the effects of adjunct questions on learning. Subjects, 93 male and 78 female sixth-grade students from two junior high schools in small towns located in a largely agricultural region in the Midwest and whose mean grade equivalency on the reading sub-test of the Stanford Achievement Test was 10.2, were monitored by video cameras…

Written from the perspective of the classroom teacher as novice supervisor, this paper describes two cycles of clinical supervision involving teaching peers in an elementary public school. A discussion is presented on the quality of the efforts and accuracy of the perceptions of the beginning supervisor. Some constants that may be thought of as…

A study investigated the effects of teacher probes, a type of questioning, on children's written revisions. Subjects, 260 children from grades two through six in a midwestern school district of moderate size, were randomly assigned to one of two conditions (probe or comment). Subjects in both conditions were presented with a story starter that…

A study of feedback in conversational question-response exchanges focused on the questioner's feedback to the respondent. It examined three types of "followup" moves: the ordinary type revealing the questioner's attitude to the response and closing the exchange; the type signaling the questioner's reaction to the response and inviting…

To be effective learners, students should know about the state or level of their learning and the success of the strategies they are using, so that when they misunderstand a concept they can do additional reading or consult outside sources. Traditionally, textbook study has been taught through the use of so-called formula techniques, where the…

In preparation for a major research study on change in schools, a 3-month pilot study of principals in 10 schools was conducted in central Texas. The main purpose of the study was to investigate different ways to document the actions taken by the principals to facilitate implementation of innovations in their schools. In this paper, the procedures…