The Inquiry Process
Sources and curriculum antecedents
Although John Dewey and others alluded to the scientific inquiry process no distinct
social studies curriculum had been designed until the late 1950’s when a number of
psychologists and curriculum experts began to explore the notion of structures that would
engender critical thinking. Jerome Bruner wrote extensively on the issue and developed
a curriculum called “Man: A course of Study” in which students in both elementary and
secondary schools studied small groups of humans meeting a series of adverse conditions
(such as the Inuit) in order to respond to the grand question of what makes humans
human. During that same time, too, Hilda Taba developed a curriculum for the Contra
Costa County School District in which she postulated that “Thinking can be taught, that
thinking is an active transaction between the individual and data, and that thought
processes are sequential.” Edwin Fenton in the early 1970’s introduced a series of
curriculum based on the study of various world cultures and historical issues. The series
was based on the classic inquiry model.
With the advent of computers in the classroom arose a brand new tool for the use of
inquiry. One of the more successful websites and programs is that of Bernie Dodge who
uses a loose inquiry framework and focuses more on the notion of projects. Additionally
the influence of Howard Gardner, Piaget and others on the notion of constructivist
education in the classroom also led to further focus on thinking, critical thinking, and
inquiry. In the late 90’s however a trend toward accountability began to dominate the
educational field and there came a focus on standards. Thought the latter are by no means
incompatible with inquiry, some sets of standards have led teachers to focus on
knowledge, rather than on thinking processes. As it stands, today, a synthesis is in the
making, led by such curriculums as that advocated by the State of Washington and
influenced by thinkers such as Sam Wineburg
Banks, James (1990) Teaching Strategies for the Social Studies:
Inquiry, Valuing, and Decision-Making. New York: Longman.
Bruner, J., Goodnow, J. J., & Austin, G. A. (1967). A study of
thinking. New York: Science Editions.
Fenton, Edwin (1966). Teaching the New Social Studies in Secondary
Schools: An Inductive Approach. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.
James P. Shaver, ed. (1991). Handbook of Research on Social Studies,
Teaching, and Learning. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co.
Taba, H. (1967). Teacher's handbook for elementary social studies
(Intro. ed.). Palo Alto, Calif.: Addison-Wesley.
Webquest Site (Bernie Dodge)—http://webquest.sdsu.edu/
Washington State Social Studies Curriculum—
http://www.k12.wa.us/curriculumInstruct/SocStudies/)