Book Description
It has been alleged that few American students can use their knowledge effectively in thinking and reasoning. This study urges teachers to give more attention to student abilities in analyzing, classifying, comparing, formulating hypotheses, and drawing conclusions--that is, thinking skills essential to reasoning processes. Designed to familiarize secondary classroom teachers with one model of instruction for developing students' reasoning abilities, this book gives practical assistance in learning how to use the inductive approach, a teaching approach that actively involves students in the use of their own reasoning while learning content area material. Each chapter of the book includes a section that asks readers to recall experience pertinent to the material in the chapter, a set of questions to answer as the material is read, and a series of activities designed to lead readers through the developmental stages of the learning process. Chapters of the book are: (1) What is the inductive approach? (2) Why use the inductive approach? (3) How to use the inductive approach for concept development; (4) How to use the inductive approach for principle formation; (5) Inductive reasoning in English; (6) Inductive reasoning in mathematics; (7) Inductive reasoning in science; and (8) Inductive reasoning in social studies. A 90-item bibliography is attached. (RS)