This textbook, written for preservice teachers, takes a constructivist approach to help foster students' awareness of the nature of science, understanding of the inquiry process, and an appreciation of the interaction between science, technology, and society. Examples of tools that the book introduces to promote understanding include analogies and concept mapping. The book emphasizes teaching for understanding and uses problem solving as an assessment tool. Science, technology, and society references are incorporated in each lesson. Readers are told how to use discrepant events and real life situations in the lessons.
Scenarios introduce each chapter.
Figures, tables, and black and white photographs as well as exercises and featured research reports are found throughout the book. The book is divided into four parts that reflect the learning cycle model through exploration, explanation, expansion, and evaluation. The first part explores the teaching of science. It discusses the importance of scientific inquiry and examines methods that promote cooperative learning. The second part explains how theories provide the foundations for the practice of inquiry learning while the third expands the readers' understanding and skills in science teaching.