When implemented effectively, technology has great potential to positively connect with learning, assessment, and motivation in the context of K–12 science education and inquiry. Written by leading experts on technology-enhanced science learning and educational research, this book situates the topic within the broader context of educational psychology research and theory and brings it to a wider audience. With chapters on the fundamentals of science learning and assessment, integration of technology into classrooms, and examples of specific technologies, this concise volume is designed for any course on science learning that includes technology use in the curriculum. It will be indispensable for student researchers and both pre- and in-service teachers alike.

This book analyzes the main Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) used in science education and the main theoretical approaches that support science education mediated by ICT in order to show how digital technologies can be employed in Inquiry-Based Science Education. It presents the results of a comprehensive review of studies focusing both on the use and effects of digital technologies in science education and on the different theoretical approaches that support the use of ICTs in science teaching.By doing so, the book provides a useful summary of the current research in the field and a strong analysis of its limitations. It concludes that there are few studies that report strategies and didactics for the practical use of ICT in science classes and that the use of ICT in science education can’t be seen as an isolated action without a theoretical basis to support it. Based on these conclusions, the volume identifies the main ICTs used in inquiry activities, the main steps in inquiry activities used in science education and their approaches to the use of ICT. It shows that the use of ICT in Inquiry-Based Science Education allows students to develop more active work styles, improved attitudes towards science, better conceptual and theoretical understanding, improved reasoning, better modelling capabilities, and improved teamwork, along with improvements in other abilities. Using ICT in Inquiry-Based Science Education will be a valuable resource for science teachers and science teacher educators looking for an introductory text that presents an overview of the scientific research analyzing the implementation of digital technologies in science teaching and that provides useful insights to all educators interested in using digital technologies to introduce their students in the world of scientific inquiry and research.

This book offers an insight into the research and practices of science teaching and learning in the Singapore classroom, with particular attention paid to how they map on to science as inquiry. It provides a spectrum of Singapore’s science educational practices through all levels of its education system, detailing both successes and shortcomings. The book features a collection of research and discourse by science educators in Singapore, organized around four themes that are essential components of approaching science as inquiry: teachers’ ideas and their practices, opportunities and constraints from a systemic level, students’ competencies and readiness to learn through inquiry and the need for greater awareness of the role of informal learning avenues in science education. In addition, the discourse within each theme is enriched by commentary from a leading international academic, which helps to consolidate ideas as well as position the issues within a wider theoretical and international context. Overall, the papers set out important contexts for readers to understand the current state of science education in Singapore. They also highlight strengths and gaps in practices of science as inquiry as well as provide suggestions about how the system can be improved. These research findings are therefore helpful as they provide honest and evidence-based feedback as well as tangible and doable ideas that policy makers, teachers, students and school administrators can adopt, adapt and enhance.

Unlock the wonder in each of your students through inquiry-based science! Are you both fascinated and baffled by inquiry-based science? Do you want to tap the strength of inquiry-based science to help your students build deeper understandings? Do you want to use inquiry-based science to foster high-quality instruction across the educational board? This guide provides clear and simple explanations for engaging students in meaningful and hands-on, minds-on ways of understanding science. Eight Essentials of Inquiry-Based Science, K-8 breaks each essential into sample lessons that include sample data, discussion questions, and tools such as graphic organizers and analogies. Hammerman draws on more than 20 years experience in the fields of science instruction and professional development to address basic and complex principles related to inquiry, including: How to discuss data, information, models, graphics, and experiences How to interact with one another to strengthen knowledge and skills How to extend learning through guided or open-inquiry investigations and research How to apply new learning and research-based best practices for improving student achievementWhen you harness the immense power of inquiry-based learning, you can fully discover the inquisitive nature of each of your students!

The Discovering Science through Inquiry series provides teachers and students of grades 3-8 with direction for hands-on science exploration around particular science topics and focuses. The series follows the 5E model (engage, explore, explain, elaborate, evaluate). The Matter kit provides a complete inquiry model for the exploration of the structure and properties of matter through supported investigation. Encourage students through activities such as studying the chemical properties of matter and investigating whether household items are acids and bases. Matter kit includes: 16 Inquiry Cards in print and digital formats; Teacher's Guide; Inquiry Handbook (Each kit includes a single copy; additional copies can be ordered); Digital resources include PDFs of activities and additional teacher resources, including images and assessment tools; leveled background pages for students; and video clips to support both students and teachers.

In the past decades wide-ranging research on effective integration of technology in instruction have been conducted by various educators and researchers with the hope that the affordances of technology might be leveraged to improve the teaching and learning process. However, in order to put the technology in optimum use, knowledge about how and in what way technology can enhance the instruction is also essential. A number of theories and models have been proposed in harnessing the technology in everyday lessons. Among these attempts Technological and Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework introduced by Mishra and Koehler has emerged as a representation of the complex relationships between technology, pedagogy and content knowledge. The TPACK framework extends the concept of Shulman's pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) which defines the need for knowledge about the content and pedagogical skills in teaching activities. Since then the framework has been embraced by the educational technology practitioners, instructional designers, and educators. TPACK research received increasing attention from education and training community covering diverse range of subjects and academic disciplines and significant progress has been made in recent years. This book attempts to bring the practitioners and researchers to present current directions, trends and approaches, convey experience and findings, and share reflection and vision to improve science teaching and learning with the use of TPACK framework. A wide array of topics will be covered in this book including applications in teacher training, designing courses, professional development and impact on learning, intervention strategies and other complex educational issues. Information contained in this book will provide knowledge growth and insights into effective educational strategies in integration of technology with the use of TPACK as a theoretical and developmental tool. The book will be of special interest to international readers including educators, teacher trainers, school administrators, curriculum designers, policy makers, and researchers and complement the existing literature and published works.

This textbook provides an introduction to inquiry-oriented secondary science teaching methods.

This book synthesizes current literature and research on scientific inquiry and the nature of science in K-12 instruction. Its presentation of the distinctions and overlaps of inquiry and nature of science as instructional outcomes are unique in contemporary literature. Researchers and teachers will find the text interesting as it carefully explores the subtleties and challenges of designing curriculum and instruction for integrating inquiry and nature of science.

Science/Technology/Society (S/T/S) is a reform effort to broaden science as a discipline in schools and colleges; to relate science to other facets of the curriculum; and to relate science specifically to technology and to the society that supports and produces new conceptualizations of both. S/T/S is also defined as the teaching and learning of science/technology in the context of human experience. It focuses on a method of teaching that recognizes the importance that experience in the real world has on the learning process. And it recognizes that real learning can occur only when the learner is engaged and able to construct her or his own meaning. Science/Technology/Society As Reform in Science Education is rich with examples of such teaching and learning. It includes impressive research evidence that illustrates that progress has been made and goals have been met. For teachers and administrators alike, this book provides and validates new visions for science education.