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Participants (N=40) in an inservice program to promote student reasoning and learning cycle approach indicated that making changes and maintaining ongoing work was dependent on collaboration between colleagues in the project. Investigators concluded that the "coaching" phase (Joyce and Showers inservice training model) is a crucial step for classroom innovations. (DH)

Determined: (1) if teachers who participated in "Science Teaching and Development of Reasoning" workshops felt they utilized workshop ideas in changing teaching style/methods; (2) if nature and extent of changes made were consistent with workshop intent/philosophy; and (3) factors teachers perceived as facilitating or hindering their ability to make changes. (Author/SK)

The article discusses the description and evaluation of an inservice model for implementation of a learning cycle approach in the secondary science classroom. The inability of secondary students to develop and apply science concepts continues to plague science teachers. To implement inquiry techniques effectively, teachers need to be aware of the reasoning abilities of their students and the cognitive level required to understand the science content they are teaching. In accomplishing theses goals, an instructional program for secondary science teachers was developed. Teachers are shown how to plan lessons that encourage students to raise questions and to develop theories based on observation.

The article discusses whether the teachers who participated in "Science Teaching and Development of Reasoning" workshops used the ideas of the workshop in shifting their teaching style and methods. The article also seeks to determine the extent of the changes whether it is consistent with the intent and philosophy of the workshop. It was identified that at least half of the teachers who participated in the workshop realized the importance of reasoning development and started to focus on the changes made to the curriculum of teaching. Some of the teachers interviewed made changes but the interpretations of the contents of the workshop was in various forms and concepts.