Journal of Science Teacher Education, 13(1): 1-12, 2002 1
©2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers, Printed in the Netherlands
Reforming Science Teaching: What Research says about Inquiry*
Ronald D. Anderson
University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, 80309, U.S.A.
Inquiry has a decades-long and persistent history as the central word used to
characterize good science teaching and learning. Even at a time when a new word,
constructivism, had entered the general educational lexicon as the descriptor of
good education, the authors of the National Science Education Standards (NSES)
chose to stay with inquiry and totally ignore the new word. But in spite of its
seemingly ubiquitous use, many questions surround inquiry. What does it mean to
teach science as, through, or with inquiry? Is the emphasis on science as inquiry,
learning as inquiry, teaching as inquiry or all of the above? Is it an approach to
science education that can be realized in the classroom or is it an idealized approach
that is more theoretical than practical? Is it something that the “average” teacher
can do, or is it only possible in the hands and minds of the exceptional teacher?
What are the goals of its use? Does it result in greater or better learning? How does
one prepare a teacher to utilize this type of science education? What barriers must
be overcome to initiate such science education in the schools? What dilemmas do
teachers face as they move to this form of science education? The list of questions
goes on. They are of particular importance to people committed to the NSES and
wanting to see these standards put into greater practice. Reformers from all
categories—teachers, teacher educators, administrators, policy makers and members
of the general public want to know what answers research has for such questions.
Given the central role of teacher education in the process of educational reform,
however, these questions are of particular interest to science teacher educators.
Researchers’ pursuit of answers has resulted in an extensive literature. Defining
the arena broadly, the number of studies is in the hundreds and probably more.
This body of research literature is worth exploring, but it will be necessary to limit
and focus.
Since the NSES is at the center of current discussions of U.S. science education
improvement, it is well to begin with that document and consider its use of inquiry.
This beginning point, of course, does not imply that the NSES document is without
problems or that is fully grounded in the latest research. It is well to remember that
it is a political document, based on an attempt to find consensus among the various
educational, scientific and public constituencies in the realm of science education.
As a result of its wide usage, the language of the document is useful for our
communication. Consideration subsequently can be given to how far research goes
in answering the questions at hand.
*This article is based on a commissioned paper prepared for the Center for Science,
Mathematics and Engineering Education at the National Research Council.
Journal of Science Teacher Education, 13(1): 1-12, 2002 1
©2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers, Printed in the Netherlands
Reforming Science Teaching: What Research says about Inquiry*
Ronald D. Anderson
University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, 80309, U.S.A.
Inquiry has a decades-long and persistent history as the central word used to
characterize good science teaching and learning. Even at a time when a new word,
constructivism, had entered the general educational lexicon as the descriptor of
good education, the authors of the National Science Education Standards (NSES)
chose to stay with inquiry and totally ignore the new word. But in spite of its
seemingly ubiquitous use, many questions surround inquiry. What does it mean to
teach science as, through, or with inquiry? Is the emphasis on science as inquiry,
learning as inquiry, teaching as inquiry or all of the above? Is it an approach to
science education that can be realized in the classroom or is it an idealized approach
that is more theoretical than practical? Is it something that the “average” teacher
can do, or is it only possible in the hands and minds of the exceptional teacher?
What are the goals of its use? Does it result in greater or better learning? How does
one prepare a teacher to utilize this type of science education? What barriers must
be overcome to initiate such science education in the schools? What dilemmas do
teachers face as they move to this form of science education? The list of questions
goes on. They are of particular importance to people committed to the NSES and
wanting to see these standards put into greater practice. Reformers from all
categories—teachers, teacher educators, administrators, policy makers and members
of the general public want to know what answers research has for such questions.
Given the central role of teacher education in the process of educational reform,
however, these questions are of particular interest to science teacher educators.
Researchers’ pursuit of answers has resulted in an extensive literature. Defining
the arena broadly, the number of studies is in the hundreds and probably more.
This body of research literature is worth exploring, but it will be necessary to limit
and focus.
Since the NSES is at the center of current discussions of U.S. science education
improvement, it is well to begin with that document and consider its use of inquiry.
This beginning point, of course, does not imply that the NSES document is without
problems or that is fully grounded in the latest research. It is well to remember that
it is a political document, based on an attempt to find consensus among the various
educational, scientific and public constituencies in the realm of science education.
As a result of its wide usage, the language of the document is useful for our
communication. Consideration subsequently can be given to how far research goes
in answering the questions at hand.
*This article is based on a commissioned paper prepared for the Center for Science,
Mathematics and Engineering Education at the National Research Council.
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