University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Issues in Inquiry-Based Science Education Seen Through Dewey's Theory of Inquiry

Won, Mihye

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/14574

Description

Title
Issues in Inquiry-Based Science Education Seen Through Dewey's Theory of Inquiry
Author(s)
Won, Mihye
Issue Date
2010-01-06T16:12:48Z
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Bruce, Bertram C.
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Bruce, Bertram C.
Committee Member(s)
  • Johnston-Parsons, Marilyn A.
  • Abd-El-Khalick, Fouad
  • Hug, Barbara
Department of Study
Curriculum and Instruction
Discipline
Secondary & Continuing Educ
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
  • Inquiry-based education
  • John Dewey
  • Theory of Inquiry
  • Science education
  • Community-based education
  • Problematic situation
  • learning goals
Abstract
To understand the issues of inquiry-based education, I adopted John Dewey’s theory of inquiry as the analytical framework to examine science learning activities, students’ interactions, and education standards. Educators have tried to engage students in meaningful learning, but the analysis revealed that the meaning of inquiry was diverse: interesting hands-on materials to teach scientific knowledge; collaborative group work for independence and democratic attitudes; and dynamic problem solving to change the community and the students’ identities. Efforts to connect students’ experiences with school learning aimed at different learning outcomes and consequently met with a different set of dilemmas in drawing students’ participation and supporting their learning. The interaction among the educational goals, the learning outcomes, and the difficulties shows that we need to evaluate carefully the meanings of inquiry-based education and its learning goals in order to find better ways to ensure students’ growth to its fullest.
Graduation Semester
2009-12
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/14574
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2009 Mihye Won

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