Inquiry in Project-Based Science Classrooms: Initial Attempts by Middle School Students

摘要: Although inquiry is an essential component of science learning, we know little about students' experience with in regular classrooms. Our goal to describe realistically what middle school students do and where they have difficulties their first encounters learning. We report findings from case studies 8 as designed carried out own investigations during 2 projects that spanned several months. detail how asked questions, planned procedures, constructed apparatus, work, interpreted data drew conclusions, presented the findings. discuss collaboration among group members support teacher influenced this process. The indicate were thoughtful designing planning procedures; for instance, thought controls, samples, organize collection. However, cases also reveal areas weakness, such failures focus on scientific merit questions generated systematically collect analyze draw conclusions. Teacher structuring questioning crucial encouraging be substantive aspects inquiry. Overall, these can help curriculum developers educators attempts design instruction improve (http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10508406.1998.9672057)