ERIC Number: EJ1188338
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1087-3430
EISSN: N/A
Building a Community of Inquirers in Your Classroom: Learning from Our Global Colleagues
Franco, Yvonne
Electronic Journal of Science Education, v17 n4 2013
Attention to inquiry-based teaching practices has surfaced as one vehicle for supporting the development of critical thinking skills in science classrooms (Achieve Inc., 2013). Despite the endless dialogue, professional development, and standards to support the teaching approach, in practice, inquiry presents teachers with a great challenge. In fact "there has been a tremendous concern that our efforts are simply not resulting in the desired level of inquiry-based teaching" (Meyer, Meyer, Nabb, Connell & Avery, 2011). Limiting factors include teacher knowledge and an understanding of inquiry (Anderson 2002; Meyer et al., 2011; Minstrell & van Zee 2000). Ironically, the global use of this method allows us to learn how others have overcome these barriers and are making inquirers of their students. International studies of practices employed by top achieving countries such as Finland and China reveal effective strategies their teachers use to foster inquiry in their classrooms (Huang, 2004; Huann-Shyang, Jui-Ying & Su-Chu, 2002; Laukkanen, 2008; Lavonen & Juuti, 2012; Liu, 2005; Maes, 2010; Nivalainen, Asikainen, & Hirvonen, 2013; Wei, 2009; Yuwen Bianjishi, 1999). This summative analysis offers a rationale for learning from our "global colleagues," defines the latest emphasis on inquiry-based teaching, and offers strategies for creating a community of inquirers in the science classroom as informed and evidenced by teachers in both China and Finland.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Elementary School Science, Science Instruction, Communities of Practice, Active Learning, Inquiry, Educational Strategies, Instructional Effectiveness, Science Process Skills, Comparative Education, Critical Thinking
Southwestern University and Texas Christian University. TCU Box 297900, Fort Worth, TX 76129. Tel: 817-257-6115; e-mail: ejse@southwestern.edu; Web site: http://ejse.southwestern.edu
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: China; Finland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A