Várias pesquisas em ensino de ciências apontam a dificuldade que os estudantes apresentam para retomar conhecimentos de Física com os quais já tiveram contato anteriormente na escola. Apresentamos nesta tese o relato de uma pesquisa cujos objetivos são identificar o que os estudantes retomam das aulas de Física do ano anterior e compreender os processos que levam (ou não) a essas retomadas, considerando a perspectiva do ensino por investigação. Foi realizada observação participante em uma turma de 22 alunos de Ensino Médio, de uma instituição federal de ensino, durante seis meses, ao longo dos quais foram utilizadas com os estudantes algumas atividades investigativas sobre calor e temperatura, além das práticas usuais do professor para abordar a temática da Física Térmica. Aproximadamente um ano depois, o mesmo docente aplicou, para a mesma turma, atividades diferentes das iniciais, mas que solicitavam a retomada do que tinha sido ensinado previamente. Coletas de registros foram realizadas nesses diferentes momentos. Utilizamos cinco elementos teóricos como base para as análises realizadas - memória, cognição, afetividade, interação social e metacognição -, a fim de tentar compreender o processo de aprendizagem ao longo de diferentes momentos, considerando a perspectiva sócio-histórico-cultural vigotskiana. No processo de análise dos dados, elaboramos duas categorias de análise relativas às memórias mediadas: a memória científico-afetiva, que diz respeito ao que foi retomado e que guarda estreita relação com o conhecimento científico escolar e/ou é influenciado por ele; a memória afetivo-vivencial, que se refere ao que foi retomado e que não tem relação explícita com o conhecimento científico escolar. Um ano após as atividades iniciais, os estudantes retomaram, pela memória científico-afetiva, conhecimentos e habilidades relativas ao ensino por investigação e à metacognição. Entendemos que tais retomadas são indícios da aprendizagem dos temas de física trabalhados nos processos de ensino. Atividades realizadas em aula, sentimentos e sensações foram retomados pela memória afetivo-vivencial. As retomadas por ambas as memórias ocorreram por intermédio de elementos mediadores, que expressam de que forma ou por intermédio de que fatores tais retomadas foram feitas. A análise realizada nos permite defender a tese de que a aprendizagem de Física ao longo do tempo, na perspectiva do ensino por investigação, é influenciada e permeada por memórias mediadas, as quais envolvem aspectos cognitivos, afetivos e metacognitivos e são formadas e acessadas por elementos mediadores. Uma implicação de nossos resultados para o ensino de Física é o fato de que conhecer os elementos mediadores pode auxiliar o docente a elaborar seu ensino de modo a afetar positivamente a aprendizagem dos estudantes. Considerando a dificuldade que os estudantes apresentam para realizar retomadas de conhecimento em momentos posteriores ao ensino inicial na escola, concluímos que a perspectiva de ensino do professor e o tipo de atividade de retomada influenciam diretamente a forma como os alunos retomam situações e conhecimentos com os quais tiveram contato anteriormente. / Several researches in science teaching point out the difficulty students have to recall knowledge in Physics they have already had contact with at school. In this thesis, we present the report of a research which had the objective of identifying what the students recall from Physics classes they had in the previous year and comprehending the processes that lead (or not) to those recalls, considering the inquiry-based teaching. Participative observation has been carried out in a high school group with 22 students at a federal institution of learning, during six months. During those months, some inquiry-based activities were carried out with the students concerning heat and temperature, besides usual practices the teacher has to approach Thermal Physics themes. Nearly one year later, the same teacher applied activities to the same group, which were different from the initial ones, and requested the recall of what they have been previously taught. The collection of records was made in these different moments. We used five theoretical elements as the basis for the analyses performed - memory, cognition, affection, social interaction and metacognition - in order to attempt to comprehend the learning process all over the different moments, considering the cultural-historical perspective. In the process of data analysis, we have elaborated two categories of mediated memories: scientific-affective memory, corresponding to which has been recalled and that keeps close relation to the scientific knowledge and/or is influenced by it; affective-living memory, corresponding to which has been recalled and that has no explicit relation to the scientific knowledge. One year after the initial activities, the students recalled, by scientific-affective memory, knowledge and abilities related to the inquiry-based teaching and to metacognition. We understand such recalls are evidences that the students learned some of the Physics topics that were taught. Activities carried out in class, feelings and sensations were recalled by affective-living memory. The recalls by both memories happened by mediating elements, which express the way or the factors by which those recalls were made. The analysis performed allows us to defend the thesis that the Physics learning over time, from the perspective of the inquiry-based teaching, is influenced and permeated by mediated memories, which involve cognitive, affective and metacognitive aspects and are formed and accessed by mediating elements. An implication of our results to Physics teaching is the fact that knowing the mediating elements may help the teacher elaborate his teaching in order to positively affect the students\" learning. Considering the above mentioned difficulty students have to make recalls of knowledge in moments after the initial learning at school, we conclude that the teacher\"s teaching perspective and the type of recall activity directly impact the way the students recall situations and knowledge with which they have had prior contact.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:56:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Eliana Midori Morita.pdf: 2982550 bytes, checksum: ac2033b74235019e8d57271421a13f75 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-05-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The goal of this research was to investigate and analyze the process of continuing education referred to inquiry-based science research, of science teachers, to verify their potential to enhance teacher professional development and to search in which aspects these might occur. The Environmental Investigative Project, developed by the Training and Research Environmental Center (CEPEMA), of the University of São Paulo (USP) was developed for educational programs, aiming to prepare teachers to work with inquiry projects in science classrooms, focusing on environmental issues with their students. The subjects studied are regular science teachers of middle school of the municipal schools of cities near the coast of Sao Paulo. To collect data, two instruments were applied: group discussion and interviews. Document analysis was also performed on data collected by the teacher education program. This dissertation is based, on inquiry-based teaching, using the Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards: A Guide for Teaching and Learning, american National Research Council works, and Barab s researches (2001, 2002, 2003 were consulted). Regarding professional development and continuing education, this research is relied mainly on the works of Fundação Carlos Chagas reports, Nóvoa (2007, 2008, 2009), Roldão (1998, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009), Imbernón (2009, 2010), Shulman (2005) and Tardif (2008). The results show that the Environmental Investigate Project implemented in the schools by these teachers, helped their professional development, stimulated the need of continuous learning, investigating and reflection. It was also shown that it helped to work with strategies of reflection and research, such as written records, exchange of experiences, use of virtual tools and the research experience itself. It encouraged teachers not only to construct knowledge but also professional knowledge. In addition, it has made possible that this knowledge could be conveyed in a community of professionals. As a result, teachers believe they have understood the meaning of inquiry-based teaching science, while they also have been able to develop professionally themselves. Finally, this dissertation shows that it is possible to contribute to a continuing education program aiming teacher professional development, if the program itself is able to investigate and reflect on the training of the development of these teachers together with them / O objetivo desta pesquisa é analisar o processo de formação continuada referente ao ensino de ciências por investigação, junto a professores de ciências, e verificar seu potencial para propiciar o desenvolvimento profissional dos participantes e em quais aspectos. Para tanto, recorreu-se aos dados do Projeto Investigações Ambientais, que, em uma parceria com o Centro de Capacitação e Pesquisa em Meio Ambiente (CEPEMA), da Escola Politécnica da USP, desenvolveu um programa de formação continuada, com o objetivo de formar professores para trabalharem com projetos investigativos com temática ambiental junto a seus alunos. Os sujeitos pesquisados são professores efetivos de ciências do Ensino Fundamental, anos finais, de uma rede de ensino municipal do litoral do estado de São Paulo. Para coletar os dados, foram aplicados dois instrumentos, o grupo de discussão e uma entrevista. Também foi realizada análise documental dos dados coletados pelo próprio programa de formação continuada. A dissertação fundamenta-se, no que se refere ao ensino de ciências por investigação, no Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards: A Guide for Teaching and Learning do National Research Council americano e nos trabalhos de Barab (2001, 2002, 2003). No que concerne à formação continuada, o material base utilizado foi o relatório realizado pela Fundação Carlos Chagas sobre formação continuada de professores. Em relação ao desenvolvimento profissional e formação continuada, essa pesquisa se apoiou, sobretudo, nos trabalhos de Nóvoa (2007, 2008, 2009), Roldão (1998, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009) e Imbernón (2009, 2010), além de Shulman (2005) e Tardif (2008). Os resultados apontam que o Projeto Investigações Ambientais ajudou no desenvolvimento profissional dos professores participantes, ao estimular a necessidade de continuar a aprender, a investigar e a refletir. Ajudou ao trabalhar com estratégias de reflexão e de investigação, como o registro escrito, a troca de experiências, o uso de ferramentas virtuais e de pesquisa. Ajudou ao fazer com que os professores construíssem conhecimentos ou saberes profissionais. Além disso, possibilitou que estes conhecimentos pudessem ser comunicados em uma comunidade de profissionais. Como consequência, os professores acreditam ter compreendido o significado de ensino de ciências por investigação, ao mesmo tempo em que se desenvolveram profissionalmente. Por fim, essa dissertação aponta que há a possibilidade de um programa de formação continuada contribuir no desenvolvimento profissional, se a própria equipe formadora for capaz de investigar e de refletir sobre a formação dada aos professores

Orientador: José de Souza Rodrigues / Coorientadora: Arminda Eugenia Marques Campos / Banca: Renato de Campos / Banca: Marco Antonio Carvalho Pereira / Resumo: O ensino empreendedor pode melhorar diversos aspectos comportamentais dos alunos, como incentivá-los a criar o próprio emprego. O desenvolvimento de projetos pode estimular a evolução de diversas habilidades e competências empreendedoras esperadas em alunos de cursos técnicos. Observadas as duas premissas, este estudo propôs o uso de projeto integrador como estratégia para desenvolver o ensino empreendedor entre alunos de uma escola agrícola federal. O estudo baseou-se na análise documental da proposta pedagógica do curso técnico em agroindústria integrado ao ensino médio e em modelos que envolvem educação empreendedora e aprendizagem baseada em projetos. A proposta é, também, uma resposta a alguns desafios encontrados, tais como a necessidade de permanência dos alunos na escola sem atividades programadas e a superação de limitações impostas pelo desenvolvimento de projetos em disciplinas isoladas, algo que é semelhante, em termos de prática pedagógica, ao modelo tradicional de ensino. A proposta final foi elaborada a partir da adaptação de modelos educacionais e contribuições dos professores, porém precisa passar por uma avaliação mais profunda em termos dos custos envolvidos. Os resultados indicam que apesar da atual proposta pedagógica apresentar eixos teóricos e práticos voltados ao desenvolvimento de atividades interdisciplinares, estas permanecem sem conexão em nível subjetivo aos métodos de ensino de cada professor. Os resultados também indicam que a melhor forma de de... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Entrepreneurship education can improve lots of students' behavioral aspects, such as encouraging them to create their own jobs. The development of projects can stimulate the evolution of several skills and entrepreneurial skills expected in students of technical courses. Based on the two premises, this study proposed the use of an integrative project as a strategy to develop entrepreneurial education among students of a federal agricultural school. The study was based on the documentary analysis of the pedagogical proposal of the technical course in agroindustry integrated to high school and in models that involves entrepreneurial education and project-based learning. The proposal is also a response to some of these challenges, such as the need for students to stay in school without programmed activities and to overcome the limitations imposed by the development of projects in isolated disciplines, something that is similar in terms of pedagogical practice, to the traditional model of education. The final proposal was drawn from the adaptation of educational models and teachers' contributions, but it needs to take more profound evaluation in terms of the costs involved. The results indicate that in spite of the current pedagogical proposal, theoretical and practical axes focused on the development of interdisciplinary activities remain isolated at a subjective level to the teaching methods of each teacher. The results also indicate that the best way to develop the entrepreneu... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Este trabalho de pesquisa apresenta um estudo qualitativo sobre as ações do(a) professor(a) em aulas de Ciências do Ensino Fundamental I ao aplicar uma Sequência de Ensino Investigativa (SEI) (CARVALHO, 2011). Entendemos que as ações do(a) professor(a) são processos de diferentes estratégias pedagógicas e científicas em aulas investigativas ao aplicar uma SEI. Os dados utilizados para este estudo foram os mesmos dados coletados e utilizados por Sasseron (2008), constituídos por vídeos de aulas gravadas na íntegra e transcrições de falas, tanto do professor(a) quanto dos alunos, ao longo da implementação da SEI - \"Navegação e Meio Ambiente\". Sasseron propôs com essa pesquisa, os eixos estruturantes de Alfabetização Científica (AC) e os indicadores de Alfabetização Científica se debruçando sobre as interações discursivas entre professor e alunos com enfoque voltado para construção dos argumentos pelos alunos. Complementando tal itinerário de pesquisa, este trabalho analisou aulas desta SEI verificando essas interações e as ações do professor(a) nessas aulas. Os dados foram reanalisados e, para tanto, iniciamos os estudos de referenciais que discutem a interação discursiva em sala de aula, a Sequência de Ensino Investigativa (SEI), Argumentação em sala de aula de Ciências e Ações docentes. Este trabalho de pesquisa permitiu evidenciar que o(a) professor(a) desenvolve, para diferentes situações de aulas investigativas, ações características e integradoras tanto da área pedagógica quanto da área científica. Estas ações foram constituintes de uma proposição do que chamamos de Elementos do Ensino de Ciências por Investigação (EECI): um quadro matriz de categorias de Ações do(a) Professor(a) em aulas investigativas. As categorias presentes e definidas no quadro matriz foram construídas a partir das análises de cada aula, dando-nos evidências bastantes substanciais das ações do(a) professor(a) que contribuíram no processo de argumentação e no desenvolvimento da Alfabetização Científica (AC) dos alunos apresentados por Sasseron (2008) em seu trabalho. / This research paper presents a qualitative study of the actions of the teacher in Science classes in the Elementary School when applying an Inquiry-based Sequence Teaching (SEI, the initials in Portuguese) (CARVALHO, 2011). We understand that the actions of the teacher are processes of different teaching and scientific strategies in Inquiry-based lessons when applying a SEI. The data used in this study were the same data collected and used by Sasseron (2008), consisting of videos of entire recorded classes and transcripts of speeches, both from the teacher and the students, throughout the implementation of the SEI - \"Navigation and Environment\". Sasseron proposed, in this research, the structural axes of Scientific Literacy (AC, initials in Portuguese) and the indicators of Scientific Literacy, analyzing the discursive interactions between teacher and students, focusing on the construction of arguments by the students. Complementing this research itinerary, this study examined these SEI classes, observing these interactions and the actions of the teacher in the classes. The data were reanalyzed and, therefore, we initiated the studies of references that discuss the discursive interaction in the classroom, the Inquiry-based Sequence Teaching (SEI), Argumentation in the Science Classroom and Teachers activities. This research has highlighted that the teacher develops, for different situations of investigative classes, peculiar and integrative actions both in the pedagogical and scientific areas. Such actions were constituents of a proposition of what we call the Teaching of Science Elements through Research (EECI): a framework of categories of the Teacher\'s Actions in investigative classes. The defined categories under the framework were built from the analysis of each class, giving us substantial evidence of the teacher\'s actions which have contributed to the argumentation process and the development of the Scientific Literacy (AC) of the students presented by Sasseron (2008) in his paper.

L'organisation de l'espace de travail est un aspect du contexte instrumental d'enseignement (Grangeat & Hudson, 2015). A ce titre, l'appropriation de l'espace de la classe en tant qu'instrument (Rabardel, 1995) est susceptible de faciliter l'activité du professionnel ou au contraire réduire son pouvoir d'agir (Clot, 2008), en empêchant ou limitant certaines actions et interactions. L'espace de la classe est un espace relationnel (Löw, 2001) porteur d'un message plus ou moins fort de frontalité, qui détermine une structure de communication plus ou moins orientée entre les élèves et l'enseignant (Fisher et Fousse, 2002). Le placement des élèves a une incidence sur leurs performances (Perkins &Wieman, 2005 ; Brooks, 2011, 2012) et il semble aussi que les interactions entre élèves diffèrent selon la facilité d'accès de l'enseignant à leur espace de travail (Issaadi et Jaillet, 2017). L'espace de la classe est aussi l'espace de l'activité (Leplat, 2000), dans lequel l'enseignant se place et se déplace, en jouant sur les codes de la proxémie et en utilisant des lieux spécifiques (Hall, 1968, Forest, 2006). Les déplacements apparaissent comme des gestes professionnels, exprimant les connaissances professionnelles et la perception des affordances spatiales (Gibson, 1979 ; Warren &Wang, 1987) de l'enseignant.Cette recherche a analysé les placements et déplacements de l'enseignant sous l'angle de l'analyse de l'activité, en questionnant l'accessibilité (Vickerman, 1974) de quatre espaces de classe (Îlots, Bus, Hybride et Peigne). L'objectif était d'examiner dans quelle mesure les contraintes liées à l'espace de travail modifiaient les interactions entre l'enseignant et les groupes d'élèves. La méthodologie s'est appuyée sur la cartographie comportementale suivant Legendre et Depeau (2003), pour croiser les données spatiales et temporelles liées aux déplacements et les données relatives aux processus d'apprentissages, reposant sur l'analyse des échanges verbaux intragroupes d'argumentation, de régulation de la réalisation de la tâche et motivationnels et sur l'analyse des échanges enseignant-groupes, dans le contexte de l'enseignement des sciences fondé sur l'investigation. Ce contexte présente des contraintes spécifiques liées à l'espace dans la mesure où le mobilier est fixé au sol, et réclame une organisation adaptée au travail en petits groupes. Deux construits, l'accessibilité potentielle et la proximité réelle ont été mobilisés dans cette recherche.Les résultats montrent qu'une valeur d'accessibilité potentielle caractérise chaque configuration, et que la proximité effective de l'enseignant vis-à-vis des groupes d'élèves apparaît corrélée à l'accessibilité potentielle du groupe d'élèves. Ils montrent aussi que bien que les interactions verbales enseignant-groupes ne diffèrent pas selon la configuration, la qualité de la régulation intragroupe et la qualité du processus d'argumentation sont affectées par la configuration, et que leur qualité est moins bonne quand l'accès est plus difficile, ce qui questionne le rôle de la perception d'accessibilité. Les construits d'accessibilité potentielle, de proximité réelle et l'utilisation d'une méthodologie d'analyse géospatiale des interactions de classe sont proposés en tant que moyen d'évaluation des nouveaux espaces d'apprentissage qui émergent avec la généralisation des outils numériques en classe. / The organization of the workspace is an aspect of the instrumental context of teaching (Grangeat & Hudson, 2015). The appropriation of the space of the class as an instrument (Rabardel, 1995) may facilitate the activity of the professional or on the contrary reduce the teacher’s power to act (Clot, 2008), by preventing or by limiting actions and interactions. The space of the classroom is a relational space (Löw, 2001) that carries a more or less strong frontal message, determining a structure of communication more or less directed towards the teacher (Fisher and Fousse, 2002).The layout of the students has an incidence on their performances (Perkins & Wieman, 2005; Brooks, 2011, 2012) and it also seems that the interactions between pupils differ according to the accessibility of the teacher in their workspace (Issaadi & Jaillet, 2017). The space of the classroom is also the space of activity (Leplat, 2000), where the teacher is moving, playing on the codes of proxemy and using specific places (Hall, 1968, Forest, 2006). The teacher's movements appear as professional gestures, expressing professional knowledge and perception of the spatial affordances by the teacher (Gibson, 1979; Warren &Wang, 1987).This search analyzed the teacher's movements under the angle of the analysis of activity, by examining the accessibility (Vickerman, 1974) of four classroom spaces (Islands, Bus, Hybrid and Comb). The objective was to examine to what extent the constraints bound to the workspace modified the interactions between the teacher and the groups of students. The methodology used behavioral mapping following Legendre and Depeau (2003), in order to link the spatial and temporal data bound to the teacher's movements and the data concerning the processes of learning.The verbal exchanges between the students in a group – the argumentation, realization of the task and motivational exchanges- and the exchanges between the teacher and the group, were analyzed, in the context of the Inquiry Based Sciences Teaching (IBST). This context presents specific constraints bound to the space since the furniture is fixed to the ground, and needs an organization adapted to the work in small groups. Two constructs, the potential accessibility and the effective proximity were mobilized in this search.The results show that a specific value of potential accessibility characterizes every configuration, and that the effective proximity of the teacher towards the groups of students seems correlated with the potential accessibility of the groups. They also show that, although the verbal interactions between the teachers and the groups do not differ according to the configuration, the quality of the regulatory process in a group and the quality of the process of argumentation are affected by the configuration, and that their quality is less good when the access is more difficult, what underlines the role of the perception of accessibility.We suggest to use the constructs of potential accessibility, of effective proximity, and the methodology of geospatial analysis of the interactions of class for assessing the new learning spaces that emerge with the generalization of the digital tools in class.

A mediação do professor é fundamental para a construção de argumentos em aulas de Ciências. Nesse sentido torna-se importante estudar as interações discursivas entre professor e alunos. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo analisar como os propósitos e as ações do professor estimulam a argumentação dos alunos em uma aula investigativa de ciências. Para caracterizar a mediação do professor foi utilizada a ferramenta analítica \"propósitos epistêmicos e ações típicas para promoção da argumentação\" de Ferraz e Sasseron (2014) e de Ferraz (2015), enquanto que o layout de Toulmin (TAP) (2006) foi utilizado para identificar os elementos do argumento construídos pelos alunos. Foram identificados dois argumentos contendo os elementos básicos do TAP construídos coletivamente ao longo da aula. Durante a construção dos argumentos, o professor utilizou os propósitos retomar, problematizar, explorar e qualificar. As ações \"retoma dado\" e \"explora ponto de vista\" contribuíram para a construção do elemento dado. A construção da garantia deveu-se as ações \"retoma conceito\", \"retoma informações\", \"explora ponto de vista\" e \"qualifica variáveis, objetos ou fenômenos\". A construção do elemento conclusão foi promovida pela ação \"propõe um problema\". As ações \"qualifica variáveis, objetos ou fenômenos\", \"qualifica explicações ou pontos de vista\", \"retoma informações\" e \"explora ponto de vista\" auxiliaram na construção do elemento refutação do TAP. A maior frequência dos propósitos explorar e qualificar deveu-se ao esforço do professor em promover a avaliação de dados e garantias que os alunos estavam utilizando para a construção de suas conclusões sobre a presença ou não de seres vivos na amostra analisada. / The mediation of the teacher is fundamental for the construction of arguments in science class. Like this it is important to study the discursive interactions between teacher and students. This study aimed to analyze how the teacher\'s purposes and actions stimulate the reasoning of students in an inquiry science class. The analytical tool \"epistemic purpose and typical actions to promote the argumentation\" (FERRAZ; SASSERON, 2014; FERRAZ, 2015) was used to characterize the mediation of the teacher while the Toulmin Argument Pattern (TAP) (2006) was used to identify argument elements built by students. Two arguments containing the basic elements of TAP collectively built along class were identified. During the construction of the arguments, the teacher used the purpose resume, problematize, explore and qualify. The actions \"given recovery\" and \"explores view\" contributed to the construction of the data element. The construction of the warrants was due to the actions \"recovery concept\", \"recovery information\", \"explores points of view\" and \"qualifies variables, objects or phenomena\". The construction element conclusion was promoted by the action \"proposes the problem\". The actions \"qualifies variables, objects or phenomena\", \"qualifies explanations or points of view\", \"recovery information\" and \"explores perspective\" helped in the construction of refutation element of TAP. The highest frequency of the purposes explore and qualify was due to the teacher\'s effort to promote the evaluation of data and warrants that students were using to build its conclusions on the presence or absence of living organisms in the sample.

This diploma thesis is focused on incorporating inquiry based mathematics education in lower primary school. The term inquiry based education has been defined and specific signs of this education in mathematics have been found. Some tasks leading to inquiry have been identified with the help of textbooks of Fraus publishing. These tasks have been used to create lesson plans for this kind of education. Chosen lesson plans have been applied in practice and the decision about their usability has been made. Results of these lessons have been described in the evaluation. Stated findings lay the ground for primary teachers to involve inquiry based mathematics education in their lessons.

Traditional chemistry laboratory courses have a manual consisting of “step-by-step” experiments; instructions are given to complete experiments, requiring minimal information/concepts processing to be successful. This experience leaves students unprepared for the real-world, where critical thinking skills are needed to conduct research. This study focused on building analytical techniques, conceptual knowledge, and critical thinking skills used to solve research problems. A new quantitative chemistry laboratory manual was developed to transition students from traditional to inquiry-based experiments, requiring analytical method development. Data showed students having less difficulty using the new manual (0.8281 average difficulty) on method development exam questions and experiments, compared to the traditional manual (0.600 average difficulty). T-test showed significant difference between item difficulty, p = 0.029. Using null hypotheses, the new laboratory manual led to an increase in students’ conceptual knowledge and research skills. They were able to use their knowledge and skills to successfully solve real-world related problems.

Improving the STEM readiness of students from historically underserved groups is a moral and economic imperative requiring greater attention and effort than has been shown to date. The current literature suggests a high school science sequence beginning with physics and centered on developing conceptual understanding, using inquiry labs and modeling to allow students to explore new ideas, and addressing and correcting student misconceptions can increase student interest in and preparation for STEM careers. The purpose of this study was to determine if the science college readiness of historically underserved students can be improved by implementing an inquiry-based high school science sequence comprised of coursework in physics, chemistry, and biology for every student. The study used a retrospective cohort observational design to address the primary research question: are there differences between historically underserved students completing a Physics First science sequence and their peers completing a traditional science sequence in 1) science college-readiness test scores, 2) rates of science college-and-career readiness, and 3) interest in STEM? Small positive effects were found for all three outcomes for historically underserved students in the Physics First sequence.

This study examined the impact of an inquiry based Next Generation Science Standard aligned science unit on elementary students' understanding and application of the eight Science and Engineering Practices and their relation in building student problem solving skills. The study involved 44 second grade students and three participating classroom teachers. The treatment consisted of a school district developed Second Grade Earth Science unit: What is happening to our playground? that was taught at the beginning of the school year. Quantitative results from a Likert type scale pre and post survey and from student content knowledge assessments showed growth in student belief of their own abilities in the science classroom. Qualitative data gathered from student observations and interviews performed at the conclusion of the Earth Science unit further show gains in student understanding and attitudes. This study adds to the existing literature on the importance of standard aligned, inquiry based science curriculum that provides time for students to engage in science practices.