ThinkerTools Scientific Inquiry and Modeling Project
In the ThinkerTools Project, researchers from UC Berkeley and elsewhere are collaborating with middle school teachers from inner-city, rural, and suburban public schools. We are developing instructional methods and materials aimed at making scientific inquiry accessible to a wide range of students. Our work includes:
Scientific Inquiry
Creating instructional approaches that foster the development of students' scientific inquiry and reflective learning skills
Inquiry Software
Developing computer-based tools and educational activities that facilitate those skills and understandings
Curricula
Creating curricular materials and teacher's guides which embody these new approaches to science education
Assessments
Developing alternative methods of assessment that evaluate understanding, inquiry, and metacognition rather than rote retention of facts and formulas
Models of Expertise
Creating and testing theories of expertise and its acquisition, including models of scientific inquiry and reflective learning, which form the foundation for these instructional tools, methods, and materials
The ThinkerTools Research Group is part of the University of California, Berkeley's .
Creating instructional approaches that foster the development of students' scientific inquiry and reflective learning skills
