Every Learner Inquires: A State Science Education Initiative

Authors

W. Tony Heiting, Iowa Department of EducationFollow

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Learning, by its very nature, is an active mental process whereby learners work to make sense of experience in light of what they already know. Learning through inquiry encourages extensive mental engagement and, when implemented well, promotes a deep understanding of science concepts and the nature of science. For these reasons, having students learn science through inquiry has been at the heart of science education reform documents. However, teaching science through inquiry requires particular teaching skills that depart from time-honored practices. This article describes a new state science education initiative in Iowa titled “Every Learner Inquires” (ELI) that will begin prior to the 2006 school year. This article promotes National Science Education Content Standards A and G, and Iowa Teaching Standards 1, 2, 5, 7, and 8.

Publication Date

Winter 2006

Journal Title

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Volume

33

Issue

1

First Page

3

Last Page

6

Copyright

© Copyright 2006 by the Iowa Academy of Science

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Heiting, W. Tony (2006) "Every Learner Inquires: A State Science Education Initiative," Iowa Science Teachers Journal: Vol. 33: No. 1, Article 3.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/istj/vol33/iss1/3