Too often, teachers scratch their heads and ask, "What were my students thinking?" then answer, "I don't want to know." But teachers should want to know, and students should question their own thinking, as well. Critical thinking involves not just problem solving, creativity, analysis, and synthesis but also self-awareness of learning and learning…

Discussions are important classroom tools--and those that focus on science in society have the potential to interest and engage students. However, a conversation can quickly veer out of control if expectations are not clearly set by the teacher and if the discussion is not structured appropriately. This article describes the use of Socratic…

Presents one teacher's classroom method for helping students to evaluate situations that are not clear-cut and easily answered. The method involves using essays that challenge students' reasoning abilities. Includes six sample essay questions and describes how they are used in the classroom. (LZ)

Presents a questioning strategy designed to provide teachers with tools for thinking about questions and their use in classroom science inquiry. Topics discussed include history, relationships, application, speculation, and explanation. (JRH)

Discusses different roles the problem statement can play in inquiry and some resulting classroom implications. (SL)

Suggests that teachers should consider which questions to ask as a part of instructional preparation. To ensure that diversity and critical thinking are involved, a teacher should use a taxonomy for a template when writing questions. Presents and discusses Bloom's taxonomy, Gagne's levels of learning, and a taxonomy for general science process…

Describes a teaching strategy, used in a high school physics class, based on a series of "what if" questions. (PR)

Presents a study of four different teaching strategies dealing with comparing lower-level questions with higher-level questions and comparing feedback correctives with no feedback correctives. The lowest levels of achievement were in the class with low-level questions and no feedback correctives. (PR)

Gives the background history and chemistry of modern day chemical warfare from World War I to the present. Provides discussion questions to stimulate deeper thinking on the issue. Contains a discussion activity called "Can New Chemical Weapons Lead to Humane Warfare?" (CW)