Considers how Richard Rorty argues that inquiry is completely different from creativity. Argues that in the pragmatic theory of inquiry as conceived by the early Charles Peirce, the novel and the familiar are so intimate with one another that Rorty's distinction turns out to be overdrawn and untenable. (SG)

Enlists classic contributions to epistemology and a theory of social rationality in pursuit of a principle of reasoning, and then turns to uses and merits of the principle in inquiry across disciplines and subjects. Argues for the principle in the context of classic approaches to epistemology and then considers it in a classic approach to social…

Discusses reliability, validity, and rigor in qualitative educational research and the need for replacing validity and reliability with a concept that values human affairs as the purpose of research. (Contains 28 references.) (YDS)

States that home economics educators need an understanding of the meaning of critical thinking and of ways to study problems of professional practice that involve the aim of critical thinking. Presents an historical review of meanings of critical thinking and suggests the use of a critical inquiry perspective to study critical thinking. (JOW)

This article discusses the preceding articles by Way, Hultgren, and Plihal as a contrast set of inquiry paradigms. It points to strengths and limitations of each inquiry paradigm and raises several questions about paradigms. (Author/JOW)

Summarizes that the stories in this theme issue show teachers and students who successfully meet the challenges of learning science content and processes, who refine and expand their literacy development in the engaging context of understanding their world, and who are becoming more proficient in dealing with the world around them as they acquire…

Introduces the six-week-long, inquiry-oriented Planimal House project. Aims to teach the secrets of nature with in-depth research on living organisms. (YDS)

Discusses the properties and classification of liquid crystals. Presents a simple experiment that illustrates the structure of liquid crystals and the differences between the various phases liquid crystals can assume. (JRH)

Explains the importance of standards for college science education. Introduces the Standards, which are translated into a college context by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). (YDS)

Explores the relevance of anthropology today, stressing that the current relevance of anthropology has to do with current work, building on the previously relevant work of earlier anthropologists. Asking the right questions, good questions, means considering issues that are pursued for decades, rather than focusing on the pursuit of grants. (SLD)

Design research is a valuable tool to help the designer understand the problem that he/she needs to solve. The purpose of design research is to help state or understand the problems better, which will lead to better solutions. Observational research is a design research method for helping the designer understand and define the problem.…

It is possible to create an environment in which students are engaged in learning a topic like photosynthesis but are not doing a laboratory activity? Is there some way for students to get content and the history of a topic without a lecture? The activity described in this article is a result of the author asking these very questions. Several…

Questions such as "Is it art?," "How is it Art?," and "Why is is art?" often arise when individuals investigate art objects. Such questions fall into the realm of aesthetics--the branch of philosophy that concerns itself with the nature of art. Because these types of big questions require meditative contemplation and reasoned responses, aesthetics…

The advantages of inquiry-guided instruction (IGI) are emphasized, along with difficulties faced in the application of this teaching method. Several instruction techniques, and tactics are presented for solving practical problems, and in overcoming common and specific challenges of IGI.

Focusing on specific modes of evolutionally inquiry is important for students to achieve a mature understanding about evolutionary biology. Presenting evolution as rhetoric of conclusions would only confuse the minds of students.