Developing More Curious Minds

by John Barell

After the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, many people questioned why no one had anticipated the terrorists acts, even when events and intelligence seemed to point toward them. John Barell wonders if the attacks speak to a greater societal problem of complacency. He believes many students have become too passive in their learning, accepting information and facts as presented in textbooks, classes, and the media. Drawing on anecdotes from educators and his own life, Barell describes practical strategies to spur students ability and willingness to pose and answer their own questions. Antarctica expeditions, outer space discoveries, dinosaur fossils, literature, and more help define the importance of developing an inquisitive mind, using such practices as * Maintaining journals on field trips, * Using questioning frames and models when reading texts, * Engaging in critical thinking and problem-based learning, and * Integrating inquiry into curriculum developmen