Most of what students discuss and write in school is in response to questions their teachers pose. Class discussion usually revolves around teacher-generated inquiries. On homework assignments, teachers design questions to assess students' reading comprehension, or to foster their ability to synthesize information. However, it is important that…

The author experienced the introduction of the Internet as a high school student. Reflecting on that experience, he now realizes that he did not understand the possibilities offered by chat rooms, instant messaging, and other Internet-based communication tools to increase sociopolitical connectedness. As the teacher of an eleventh grade social…

The ongoing interpretive case study that the author highlights in this article focused on students' use of online discussion forums within a problem-based inquiry classroom. The focus of inquiry during the year centered on two historical questions: What does it mean to be an American? What is America's place in the world? The participants in this…