Teaching Science As Inquiry

Research tells us that an inquiry approach to science teaching motivates and engages every type of student, helping them understand science's relevance to their lives, as well as the nature of science itself. Teaching Science as Inquiry demonstrates a manageable way for new and experienced teachers to bring inquiry successfully into the science classroom through a 2-part structure: Methods for Teaching Science as Inquiry and Activities for Teaching Science as Inquiry. The Methods portion scaffolds concepts and illustrates instructional models to help readers understand the inquiry approach to teaching. The Activities portion follows the 5-E model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate), a Learning Cycle model introduced in the methods chapters that reflects the NSES Science as Inquiry Standards. With a new theme of "accountable inquiry," this leading methods text has a renewed focus on assessment (focusing on backwards planning, aligning objectives with assessments, and how to develop understanding of concepts that appear on standardized tests throughout the process of inquiry).

This book synthesizes current literature and research on scientific inquiry and the nature of science in K-12 instruction. Its presentation of the distinctions and overlaps of inquiry and nature of science as instructional outcomes are unique in contemporary literature. Researchers and teachers will find the text interesting as it carefully explores the subtleties and challenges of designing curriculum and instruction for integrating inquiry and nature of science.

The Art of Teaching Science emphasizes a humanistic, experiential, and constructivist approach to teaching and learning, and integrates a wide variety of pedagogical tools. Becoming a science teacher is a creative process, and this innovative textbook encourages students to construct ideas about science teaching through their interactions with peers, mentors, and instructors, and through hands-on, minds-on activities designed to foster a collaborative, thoughtful learning environment. This second edition retains key features such as inquiry-based activities and case studies throughout, while simultaneously adding new material on the impact of standardized testing on inquiry-based science, and explicit links to science teaching standards. Also included are expanded resources like a comprehensive website, a streamlined format and updated content, making the experiential tools in the book even more useful for both pre- and in-service science teachers. Special Features: Each chapter is organized into two sections: one that focuses on content and theme; and one that contains a variety of strategies for extending chapter concepts outside the classroom Case studies open each chapter to highlight real-world scenarios and to connect theory to teaching practice Contains 33 Inquiry Activities that provide opportunities to explore the dimensions of science teaching and increase professional expertise Problems and Extensions, On the Web Resources and Readings guide students to further critical investigation of important concepts and topics. An extensive companion website includes even more student and instructor resources, such as interviews with practicing science teachers, articles from the literature, chapter PowerPoint slides, syllabus helpers, additional case studies, activities, and more. Visit http://www.routledge.com/textbooks/9780415965286 to access this additional material.

Students often think of science as disconnected pieces of information rather than a narrative that challenges their thinking, requires them to develop evidence-based explanations for the phenomena under investigation, and communicate their ideas in discipline-specific language as to why certain solutions to a problem work. The author provides teachers in primary and junior secondary school with different evidence-based strategies they can use to teach inquiry science in their classrooms. The research and theoretical perspectives that underpin the strategies are discussed as are examples of how different ones areimplemented in science classrooms to affect student engagement and learning. Key Features: Presents processes involved in teaching inquiry-based science Discusses importance of multi-modal representations in teaching inquiry based-science Covers ways to develop scientifically literacy Uses the Structure of Observed learning Outcomes (SOLO) Taxonomy to assess student reasoning, problem-solving and learning Presents ways to promote scientific discourse, including teacher-student interactions, student-student interactions, and meta-cognitive thinking

Research tells us that an inquiry approach to science teaching motivates and engages every type of student, helping students understand science's relevance to their lives as well as the nature of science itself. But is there a Manageable way for new and experienced teachers to bring inquiry into their science classrooms? "Teaching Science as Inquiry" models this effective approach to science teaching with a two-part structure: "Methods for Teaching Science as Inquiry" and "Activities for Teaching Science as Inquiry." The Methods portion scaffolds concepts and illustrates instructional models to help readers understand the inquiry approach to teaching. The Activities portion follows the 5-E model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate), which is a Learning Cycle model introduced in the methods chapters that reflects the NSES Science as Inquiry Standards. Integrating an inquiry approach, science content, teaching methods, standards, and a bank of inquiry activities, "Teaching Science as Inquiry" demonstrates the manageable way for new and experienced teachers to bring inquiry into the science classroom. Integrated standards coverage in all chapters provides a clear picture of the best ways to let the NSES Standards inform instruction. Each activity is keyed to the NSES Standards, further developing new and experienced teachers' fluency with a standards-based science classroom. Margin notes throughout methods chapters link readers to activities that model science teaching methods and the development of science content. Annenberg videos, fully integrated in the text through reflective cases, ground chapter concepts by illustrating inquiry teaching in classrooms.

Humans, especially children, are naturally curious. Yet, people often balk at the thought of learning scienceâ€"the "eyes glazed over" syndrome. Teachers may find teaching science a major challenge in an era when science ranges from the hardly imaginable quark to the distant, blazing quasar. Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards is the book that educators have been waiting forâ€"a practical guide to teaching inquiry and teaching through inquiry, as recommended by the National Science Education Standards. This will be an important resource for educators who must help school boards, parents, and teachers understand "why we can't teach the way we used to." "Inquiry" refers to the diverse ways in which scientists study the natural world and in which students grasp science knowledge and the methods by which that knowledge is produced. This book explains and illustrates how inquiry helps students learn science content, master how to do science, and understand the nature of science. This book explores the dimensions of teaching and learning science as inquiry for K-12 students across a range of science topics. Detailed examples help clarify when teachers should use the inquiry-based approach and how much structure, guidance, and coaching they should provide. The book dispels myths that may have discouraged educators from the inquiry-based approach and illuminates the subtle interplay between concepts, processes, and science as it is experienced in the classroom. Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards shows how to bring the standards to life, with features such as classroom vignettes exploring different kinds of inquiries for elementary, middle, and high school and Frequently Asked Questions for teachers, responding to common concerns such as obtaining teaching supplies. Turning to assessment, the committee discusses why assessment is important, looks at existing schemes and formats, and addresses how to involve students in assessing their own learning achievements. In addition, this book discusses administrative assistance, communication with parents, appropriate teacher evaluation, and other avenues to promoting and supporting this new teaching paradigm.

Describes inquiry-based instruction and explains how to use it in the high school science classroom in accordance with national standards, providing case studies and other tools.

What are scientific inquiry practices like today? How should schools approach inquiry in science education? Teaching Science Inquiry presents the scholarly papers and practical conversations that emerged from the exchanges at a two-day conference of distinctive North American ‘science studies’ and ‘learning science’scholars.