The "paradigm dialogue" is an attempt to examine the philosophical positions of competing social science "ways of knowing" in the hope of establishing a dialogue among these different schools of thought. Three paradigms--postpositivism, critical theory, and constructivism--were examined in regard to their stances on three…

Two hypotheses regarding the relationship between scientific reasoning skills and the use of the inquiry method of instruction in college biology labs were examined. The first hypothesis was that scientific reasoning skills influence an instructor's ability to teach biology using inquiry. The second hypothesis was that the effectiveness with which…

This book is a guide to an approach to professional development in which one's own teaching is a field of inquiry. The book explores the nature of the university teacher's inquiry and the importance of questioning personal and intellectual values in university teaching. The chapters are: (1) "Introduction to the Enquiry"; (2) "The…

This paper focuses on the importance of inquiry in the development of scientific knowledge and includes recommendations for inquiry teaching in higher education, especially in preservice teacher education. Some of the recommendations include: (1) students should engage in inquiry early; (2) teachers should be able to effectively ask questions and…

This project studied the effects of an inquiry-based, integrated science course on student science literacy. The course was aligned to state and national science standards. The target population consisted of sophomore, junior, and senior high-school students in an upper-middle class suburb of a major Midwestern city. Questionnaires, tests, and…

An elementary social studies program should help a child develop an awareness of significant personal social values. Values pertinent to the child from age 4 to 11 are pointed out. Four principle activities in which the child must engage to develop each of these values into behavioral patterns are discussed. (Author/RM)

Three successful inquiry activities adapted to a geography course introduce students to the geographic characteristics of a variety of regions and acquaint them with major ways to utilize natural resources. (Author/KM)

Teachers who state lesson plan topics in the form of a problem, who state objectives in terms of specific skill performances expected, and who construct test questions to assess the skills involved are taking important steps towards maximizing their success as inquiry teachers. (Author)

The paper takes the position that if value inquiry in the social studies is to become something more than a mere fad'' it will have to be grounded upon a sound rationale from which appropriate curricular designs and teaching strategies can be developed. (Author)

Article stresses the skills gained in problem-solving over mere information transmission in the classroom. (GB)

The form of inquiry used by some curriculum materials affects the behavior of the learner toward the subject and toward himself and learning. (JB)

Learning concepts implies certain attitudes and skills on the part of both teachers and student; means recalling specific perceptions, discovering relationships, and applying these structures to situations. Students who have learned to conceptualize have the ability and training to view their own lives in relations to their physical and cultural…