A Personal Experience of Inquiry
in Mathematics and Science
Teaching and learning through inquiry occupies a prominent place in national and local educational reform documents such as the NCTM Standards, the AAAS Benchmarks for Science Literacy, and the NRC National Science Eduction Standards. One cannot teach through inquiry unless one has the opportunity to experience inquiry-based learning firsthand.
In this topic, participants experience inquiry-based learning through specially designed new integrated mathematics and science materials. They reflect on the process and its implications for their teaching.
INTEC's multidisciplinary theme is introduced through selected use of the Craters! book and CD by NSTA and the Planetary Society. The multidisciplinary approach in Craters! demonstrates the interrelated nature of all the sciences and mathematics and the depth of understanding reachable through a multifaceted survey of impacts. Meteor impacts are modeled in the classroom and studied on the Earth and other bodies in the solar system using the NIH image viewer on the hundreds of images on the CD that accompanies Craters!
Participants discuss their experience with other local study group members and use the online discussion area to provide a multimedia format for exchanging strategies and experiences with the Craters! activities with the full cohort.
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