PERSPECTIVES, PARTNERSHIPS, AND VALUES IN SCIENCE-EDUCATION - A UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC ELEMENTARY-SCHOOL COLLABORATION

Science is often viewed by elementary school teachers as a fixed body of information. Using recently acquired planetary imagery from the Voy ager spacecraft mission to the outer planets of our solar system, a un iversity-elementary school collaboration implemented an inquiry approa ch that promoted active student participation. Formulating research qu estions in an exploratory context provided all participants with a sen se of scientific community. This article documents the power of child- constructed inquiry through discovery and dialogue, and highlights its influence on the participating teachers, The results of the collabora tion may serve as a model for city-based universities seeking to have a constructive effect on science teaching and learning in neighboring public schools. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.