This paper presents the history of environmental education with regard to major issues, theories, and goals; environmental education in science education curriculum; and inquiry-based approaches. An example for environmental education curriculum content and an example inquiry laboratory for environmental education are included. (KHR)

In this Inquiry Study, participants will explore the process of reading expository texts--the strategies participant/teachers use to make sense of them, and how expository texts are similar to and different from narrative and other types of texts. Participants will then examine aspects of expository texts, such as text structures, vocabulary, and…

In this inquiry study, teachers will explore the concept of English Language Learning and its implications for classrooms. Individually and in small groups, teachers will have opportunities to read, talk, and reflect about current issues regarding linguistic diversity in classrooms and schools, including bilingual/multilingual, ESL, and language…

In this inquiry study, teachers will learn about or refine their understanding of the components of Reading and Writing Workshop. They will begin by living as writers themselves and then explore how to create supportive contexts for the learners in their classrooms. Video footage from a number of classrooms will serve as a series of possibilities…

In this inquiry study, teachers will explore ways to encourage the development of adolescent readers as their learning expands to include more difficult and varied content. Teachers will examine the strategies used by proficient readers and conduct inquiries into how these strategies may best be taught to adolescents. Teachers will consider how…

The paper examines the nature of qualitative empirical studies published in the AHRD proceedings from 1999-2003 and discusses findings on research purpose, research question(s), and inquiry literature cited. (Contains 4 tables.)

This paper presents the voices of California beginning teachers who completed focus group discussions on their perceptions of their own development as reflective practitioners, analyzing the nature and extent of teachers' thinking. Teachers were part of the California Formative Assessment and Support System for Teachers (CFASST), which is framed…

This document evaluates the Parks as Resources for Knowledge in Science (PARKS) project which supports environmental education in 36 National Parks across the United States and provides curriculum-based learning opportunities that integrate National Science Education Standards for teachers and students. Contents include: (1) "Executive…

The purpose of this study was to examine the following questions: a) what practices, if any, develop in the elementary science classroom to nurture development of technology as an imaginative extension of the learning environment; (b) how does an elementary teacher's practice change as technology is integrated into her/his science curriculum? How…

This paper introduces a course entitled "Teaching and Learning Life Science" which was developed as a direct response to a call for educational change in science teacher education. This course combines science content with laboratory experiences and pedagogy with inquiry learning. The targeted population includes non-science major students who are…

Teaching through inquiry can take many forms with most descriptions of inquiry emphasizing investigations. Though inquiry-based teaching strategies typically engage students in investigations, it is not the physical activity that defines inquiry. Teaching through inquiry is distinguished by its emphasis on a questioning attitude, gathering data,…

This chapter examines the role of inquiry in the development of instructional leadership in classroom teachers. It focuses on the impact that inquiry has on professional development, the promotion of professionalism, and collaboration through data-driven communication. The structure and function of leadership among these concepts serves as the…

According to the National Science Education Standards, Standard A states that science students must have the abilities and understandings necessary to do scientific inquiry. The Standards explicitly state that small groups of students should hypothesize from prior experiences, construct explanations, evaluate explanations, design investigations,…

The National Research Council (NRC) (1996) refers to scientific inquiry as "the diverse ways in which scientists study the natural world and propose explanations based on the evidence derived from their work." This could be paraphrased, as 'scientific inquiry is what scientists say it is.' Accepting this rephrasing at face value, a study has been…

The ability to become a scientifically literate citizen rests on the foundation students build from elementary, middle, and high school science experiences. The North Carolina Science Standard Course of Study (SCS) provides the concepts and theories all students should understand. Strands unify the goals and objectives and reflect a science as…