Lesson observation has been used with pre- and in-service teachers to improve classroom practices. In addition, reflection and criticality can be developed when teachers use evidence from their lessons and engage in collaborative discussions. Therefore, it is essential for pre-service teachers to collect data from their practices and reflect upon…

"A Good Fit for All Kids" supports teachers in constructing research-based, collaborative approaches to teaching writing, in print and technology-mediated forms, for diverse, inclusive classrooms. Based on lessons drawn from an experimental writing enrichment program, the book illustrates how teachers and students benefit from a…

All teachers are expected to teach inquiry-based science by the National Science Education Standards, the National Association of Science Teachers, and the Next Generation Science Standards (NRC, 1996; NSTA, 2012; NGSS Lead States, 2013). If this is the mandate for teachers of science, what does this look like over time for teachers? The current…

This study examined the impact of case-based discussions on students perceived cognitive presence, learning and satisfaction in online courses. Forty-four online graduate students enrolled in an instructional design course completed an online survey. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a paired-samples t-test.…

This study investigates the effectiveness of an inquiry-based learning curriculum for middle school students with learning and/or attentional disabilities (LD and/or ADHD). The main questions asked were: To what extent can an inquiry-based learning curriculum focused on digital responsibility impact: (1) well-being; (2) smartphone usage; and (3)…

We suggest that literacy narratives can be an important part of a curriculum designed to encourage students to understand themselves as developing learners and students. We know that there is great potential for literacy narratives--for narrativizing--when invited within a scaffolded curriculum of collaborative narrative inquiry. We place literacy…

This column presents ideas and techniques to enhance your science teaching. This month's issue shares information about trying (again) to engineer an egg package. Engineering is an essential part of science education, as emphasized in the "Next Generation Science Standards" (NGSS Lead States 2013). Engineering practices and performance…

This essay examines the concepts of "professionalism" and "ethics" as they are used in health professions education and, in particular, medical education. It proposes that, in order to make sense of the construct of "professional ethics," it would be helpful to conceive of professionalism and ethics as overlapping but…

A guided inquiry-based experiment exploring the regioselectivity of the hydration of phenylacetylene is described. The experiment uses an acidic gold(III) catalyst in a benign methanol/water solvent system to introduce students to alkyne chemistry and key principles of green chemistry. The experiment can be easily completed in approximately 2 h,…

In this paper I reflect on the dilemma critical early childhood research finds itself in today. In order to distinguish and distance ourselves from the certainties and seemingly unquestionable truths of post-political, mainstream, "normalised" research and its entanglement with neoliberal agendas and corporate interests, have we rendered…

Teachers already know that students need the skills necessary to think critically, work with others and express ideas, but often wonder how they can ensure a painless, successful professional development experience that puts the learner at the center and models best practices? They also ask how the outcomes of these fruitful professional learning…

This presentation reports the results from a three year research project examining evaluation capacity building in a complex adaptive system (CAS) and using CAS as a lens for the analysis. The NSF funded Complex Adaptive Systems as a Model for Network Evaluations (CASNET) project provides new insights on (1) the implications of complexity theory…

This paper takes a three-pronged approach to answering the question regarding the relationship between democracy and community of inquiry and other progressive pedagogies. First, a definition of a democratic educational environment will be provided within the larger context of democracy in general. Next, I will explore a number of democratic…

Big Brother, newspeak, doublethink, vapourised people and thought police became worldwide famous expressions. 1984 novel portrays a nightmare society controlled by information manipulation and by suppression of both history and science. This study aimed to investigate the impact of using the 1984 dystopian novel associated with socio-scientific…

Substantial, involved, and expensive efforts to promote the dissemination of scientific knowledge and career interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) are enthusiastically supported by many scientific, federal, and local organizations. The articulated underlying goals for these efforts include an enhanced public…