Teaching Inquiry-Based Chemistry: Creating Student-Led Scientific Communities [Paperback]

Joan A. Gallagher-Bolos (Author), Dennis W. Smithenry (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0325006717 | ISBN-13: 978-0325006710 | Publication Date: August 19, 2004

In their professional dreams, chemistry teachers imagine eager and self-sufficient students whose curiosity motivates their scientific explorations. Joan Gallagher-Bolos and Dennis Smithenry have realized this vision in their chemistry classrooms, and in Teaching Inquiry-Based Chemistry, they demonstrate how you can make student-led inquiry happen in yours.

Teaching Inquiry-Based Chemistry retraces an entire year's curriculum to show you how the authors weave constructivist theory into every lesson without sacrificing content. You will discover how slowly increasing the complexity of projects while gradually shifting the responsibility for learning to class members builds success upon success until students are ready to formulate and execute a three-week, end-of-year project where they function as a fully independent scientific community. Plus Teaching Inquiry-Based Chemistry is loaded with features that help you implement student-centered teaching immediately, including:

• proven instructional strategies
• examples of successful units from the authors' own curricula
• graphic organizers that guide you through creating an inquiry-driven classroom
• discussions of meeting NSES's inquiry standards through inquiry-based teaching
• in-depth examples of student journals and projects

Get ready to make your ideal classroom a reality and find a fresh way of teaching the chemistry you know so well. Read Teaching Inquiry-Based Chemistry and discover how helping your students capitalize on their innate scientific curiosity will lead you to new levels of professional and personal satisfaction.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A powerful and very readable book for all chemistry teachers who want to use projects and constructivism in their classrooms.”–Herbert D. Their, University of California, Berkeley, Founding Director of SEPUP

“This delightful book exudes contagious enthusiasm for active learning, which will inspire virtually any teacher to venture down this path.”–Susan and Steven Zumdahl, Authors of Chemistry, 6th Edition (Houghton Mifflin, 2003)

“This book was written by teachers for teachers. Its a practical manual for the creation, care, and feeding of inquiry as a powerful learning tool. Read the book, set the stage, and get out of the way!”–Wayne Guntzel, Teacher and Science Department Chair, Clinton High School, Clinton Iowa

About the Author

Joan Gallagher-Bolos and Dennis Smithenry are available to enthusiastically speak about community inquiry at any educational facility, particularly grades 7-college. In either an introductory one-day workshop or an in depth two-day workshop, they will teach you how to effectively implement community inquiry into your science classroom. Joan and Dennis can also give smaller presentations on more specific topics such as journals, safety, authentic assessments and collaborative work, all with the focus of community inquiry. Their presentations have been described as both inspirational and practical. As quoted from a recent participant at the NSTA conference in Dallas, "You made my conference! I've heard many talks on these topics, but nobody has put it all together like you two. That was the best!" To arrange a speaking engagement, please contact either author through their e-mails: Joan: [e-mail]; Dennis: [e-mail].

Dennis Smithenry and Joan Gallagher-Bolos are available to enthusiastically speak about community inquiry at any educational facility, particularly grades 7-college. In either an introductory one-day workshop or an in depth two-day workshop, they will teach you how to effectively implement community inquiry into your science classroom. Joan and Dennis can also give smaller presentations on more specific topics such as journals, safety, authentic assessments and collaborative work, all with the focus of community inquiry. Their presentations have been described as both inspirational and practical. As quoted from a recent participant at the NSTA conference in Dallas, "You made my conference! I've heard many talks on these topics, but nobody has put it all together like you two. That was the best!" To arrange a speaking engagement, please contact either author through their e-mails: Joan: [e-mail]; Dennis: [e-mail].

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Heinemann (August 19, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0325006717
• ISBN-13: 978-0325006710
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #454,416 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Could be useful in right situation, August 11, 2005

By 

Hamid M. Saadzoi "czarmaximus" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Teaching Inquiry-Based Chemistry: Creating Student-Led Scientific Communities (Paperback)

When I bought the book I was hoping for a bunch of labs involving inquiry based chemistry and some key points on how to incorporate inquiry based chemistry in my class. Though the book did give some suggestions on how to implement it, it did not offer a wealth of ready to use activities. I thought it focued too much on how they came up with inquiry chemistry in their class and not enough time on activities and a step by step approach on how to begin a inquiry chemistry curriculum.It wasnt too useful to me but some people may find it useful.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for teachers familiar with constructivist technique, December 29, 2007

By 

cathydotcom "airport bookstore haunter" (midwest US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Teaching Inquiry-Based Chemistry: Creating Student-Led Scientific Communities (Paperback)

This is a good but way too short book about constructivist teaching in the science classroom. For teachers who are not familair with constructivist teaching methods, or don't really understand them, I recommend you read some of the literature or take a course on it first. There is not enough information in this book, I think, for the newbie to constructivist teaching. I would like to see more detail about how the instructors got from September to May, and more detail on how they scheduled time, especially journal time.
There are some great tips in here if you do know some things about constructivist teaching. The whole concept of teaching science and inquiry is well explained, and I will gratefully use many of their ideas. The book does a good job of helping teachers link chemistry with everyday life, and takes some of the "academic only" focus away from the laboratory.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional Book, May 25, 2006

By 

H. Hisrich - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Teaching Inquiry-Based Chemistry: Creating Student-Led Scientific Communities (Paperback)

I enjoyed this book completely and plan to use it to revamp the way that I teach Chemistry. I love the way that the authors lay out how to create a community in the classroom gradually throughout the school year. The most interesting thing about this book to me is that, while there are many books about inquiry and about grouping students for learning, this is the first book that really described for me how to create a community of learners (whole class) that is self-directed in doing science. I can't wait to try out the ideas in my own classroom next year.