Discussed and questioned is the credibility of the widely-held view concerning the role of impartiality and crucial experiments in science as exemplified by the 18th century controversy between Spallanzani and Needham. Science teachers are cautioned to remember that performing investigations and conducting experiments are tasks not entirely devoid…

The primary goal is to explain the theory, and further, to expand a scheme of instruction and classroom procedures that arise as a consequence of his theory. Whenever possible, these ideas will be put forth using examples in physics context in an effort to elucidate difficult ideas. (DF)

Reports a procedure for training fifth and seventh grade students to substantially improve their understanding and use of controlled experimentation procedures. (SL)

The relationships between 54 sixth grade students' performance on the Piagetian balance beam and bending rods tasks were correlated with their answers to value-laden questions. Significant positive relationships were observed. Implications from these findings for science instruction are discussed. (CP)

Describes an investigation undertaken to evaluate whether or not the Purdue experimental program, through its concrete curricular materials and inquiry-oriented procedures, had been successful in promoting formal reasoning abilities in its students. Results indicated that concrete curricular materials and problems can promote the development of…

Provides and explains a teacher self-evaluation instrument designed to measure inquiry teaching. Recommends that a lesson be videotaped after which the educator scores the presentation on the criteria of lesson content, student behavior, teacher behavior, and questioning techniques. (CP)

Seventh-grade students enrolled in two average classes were pretested, randomly assigned to two training groups--an active group in which physical materials were employed and a verbal group in which standard textbook procedures were employed--immediately posttested and posttested one month later. The active group showed greater achievement and…

Suggests that students who reason with only concrete thinking patterns may become formal thinkers through the use of the following instructional pattern: (1) the introduction of an undifferentiated whole, (2) differentiation of the whole through concrete experiences, (3) invention of symbolic notation, (4) application of concepts which lead to…

The purpose of this paper is to provide a set of criteria within a format that teachers, student teachers, and supervisors can use to better understand what inquiry is and how to evaluate the extent to which it is being incorporated into classroom activities. The evaluative criteria are organized into an instrument and are divided into the…

This study was concerned with student transition from concrete to formal cognitive functioning. Results of training 32 fifth-grade and 32 seventh-grade students indicated that instruction can effect the desired transition of ability to isolate and control variables. (SL)

The author examines Novak's position that science and mathematics educators should discard Piaget's theory of intellectual development in favor of Ausubel's theory of meaningful learning as a guide for teaching practice and research. (PB)