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Dominant theories about primary science contend that knowledge is the key. Ovens challenges this view, showing, through case studies, that inquiry and reflection play a significant part in the learning process. This applies to pupils, teachers and teacher educators. Taking curiosity as a pre-condition for good learning, Ovens shows that it is possible to increase the desire to learn more and learn better, to improve confidence in the ability to inquire, to imbue pupils with the courage to seek improvement, to place trust in collaborative processes, to raise awareness of significant detail and to encourage open-mindedness.

Developing Inquiry for Learning shows how university tutors can help students to improve their abilities to learn and to become professional inquirers. An increasing proportion of students entering higher education seem to assume that learning is a relatively passive process. This may be the largest single limitation on their achievement. University tutors need to be able to respond creatively to students' learning needs and difficulties. The modern teaching environment in higher education demands a sophisticated approach to teaching, learning and assessment i.e. the curriculum: its planning, its development and tutors' professional development. Tutors need fresh ideas about how to challenge students' spoon-fed approach, to enable them to become collaborative, yet independently motivated learners. In the innovative and practically proven approach developed by the authors of this book, students are guided to implement action research into their learning practices and reflections. Using a rolling programme of cyclical inquiries and whole group 'conferences' on improving learning, students write 'patches' on learning development which are then shared across the year group online. Each student's cumulative set of patches, together with their regular reflective writing, provide the basis for assembling a composite final assignment, a 'Patchwork Text', for assessment. This style of curriculum and assessment organisation encourages regular peer feedback and formative assessment, as part of the whole module process. This is a dynamic approach which builds personal confidence within students, both as learners and as professionals. Providing teaching materials and examples of students' responses, including the use of blogs, wikis and discussion boards, Developing Inquiry for Learning analyses and theorises on the deeper characteristics of the difficulties being addressed. With the provision of relevant frameworks of theory and values, readers are

Developing Inquiry for Learning shows how university tutors can help students to improve their abilities to learn and to become professional inquirers. An increasing proportion of students entering higher education seem to assume that learning is a relatively passive process. This may be the largest single limitation on their achievement. University tutors need to be able to respond creatively to students' learning needs and difficulties. The modern teaching environment in higher education demands a sophisticated approach to teaching, learning and assessment i.e. the curriculum: its planning, its development and tutors' professional development. Tutors need fresh ideas about how to challenge students' spoon-fed approach, to enable them to become collaborative, yet independently motivated learners. In the innovative and practically proven approach developed by the authors of this book, students are guided to implement action research into their learning practices and reflections. Using a rolling programme of cyclical inquiries and whole group 'conferences' on improving learning, students write 'patches' on learning development which are then shared across the year group online. Each student's cumulative set of patches, together with their regular reflective writing, provide the basis for assembling a composite final assignment, a 'Patchwork Text', for assessment. This style of curriculum and assessment organisation encourages regular peer feedback and formative assessment, as part of the whole module process. This is a dynamic approach which builds personal confidence within students, both as learners and as professionals. Providing teaching materials and examples of students' responses, including the use of blogs, wikis and discussion boards, Developing Inquiry for Learning analyses and theorises on the deeper characteristics of the difficulties being addressed. With the provision of relevant frameworks of theory and values, readers are amply equipped to adopt, adapt and experiment within their own developments of teaching and curricula. Tutors, particularly programme leaders, and those who are responsible for the quality of student learning across programmes, are challenged in various ways to re-evaluate current provision and are helped to improve it in ways which can be matched to local situations and priorities. Peter Ovens was Principal Lecturer in Professional and Curriculum Development at Nottingham Trent University and is now a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Cumbria. Frances Wells is a Principal Lecturer in Education at Nottingham Trent University Pat Wallis is a Senior lecturer in Professional Studies at Nottingham Trent University. Cyndy Hawkins is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at Nottingham Trent University

This article describes the development of an elective module for final-year undergraduate primary school student teachers becoming specialists in science. It explains how the introduction of the Patchwork Text assignment format has made it possible to exploit more fully the advantages of collaborative learning by students in small groups. The theoretical dimensions of the study which are explored briefly here include: constructivist theories of learning, interactionist theories of teaching, aims and methods of science education curricula, and theories of educational assessment. The more general educational insight which has emerged from the discipline-specific work described is that a Patchwork Text approach to formal assessment, including what I regard as a cognate view of curriculum, stimulates strong interest, improves student's wholistic grasp of a broad field of knowledge and its professional application, and encourages an autonomous approach to collaborative learning.

The purpose of writing case studies of teachers' participation in the course was to know more about individuals' experiences and learning, to be able to understand teachers' professional development in a more general sense and, therefore, be better able to enable it to take place.

One of the distinctive characteristics of the work described here is that, as the course tutor, I attempted to be reflexive about the development that the teachers were being encouraged to achieve. My own professional development was interwoven with theirs, and I wanted to learn about both. Wherever possible, my reflection about one area of development has been informed by reflection about the other. Therefore, it seems appropriate to begin this chapter by presenting aspects of my own action research in a similar way to how the work of the teachers has been presented.