Chapter 1: Supporting the Next Generation of Scientific Practices with More Emphasis on Learners and Their Thinking

Imagine your science, STEM and other content area classrooms applying a scientific practices critical thinking framework through which all learning is performed in the context of exciting and relevant investigation. This chapter provides a preview of how each teacher-author in this book invited their students to think deeply and creatively, two sorely needed attributes in students (Costa, 2008), that are key in driving both student and teacher toward a successful, rigorous inquiry experience that brings together the achievement of content standards. Within the framework of the National Science Education Standards and Next Generation Science Standards, this chapter focuses on the conditions (termed "More Emphasis conditions") unveiled throughout the book necessary for achieving success in teaching and learning that will continue to be central throughout the 21st century.