The learning cycle is an inquiry approach to instruction that continues to demonstrate significant effectiveness in the classroom.1–3 Rooted in Piaget's theory of intellectual development, learning cycles provide a structured means for students to construct concepts from direct experiences with science phenomena. Learning cycles have been the subject of numerous articles in science practitioner periodicals as well as the focus of much research in science education journals.4 This paper reintroduces the learning cycle by giving a brief description, followed by an example suitable for a range of physics classrooms.
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For example, a brief search for “learning cycle” yields numerous references in Journal of Research in Science Teaching, International Journal of Science Education, Science Scope, The Science Teacher, Journal of Science Teacher Education, and Science Education periodicals.
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17.
Ibid.
18.
Ibid.
19.
J. Piaget, Biology and Knowledge Theory: An Essay on the Relations between Organic Regulations and Cognitive Processes (University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL, 1975).
20.
J. Phillips, The Origins of Intellect: Piaget's Theory, 2nd ed. (W. H. Freeman, San Francisco, CA, 1975).
21.
Send requests for electronic copies to [email protected] or [email protected]. Circles & Bubbles can also be downloaded from http://www.ou.edu/education/ilac/science/homepage.htm. Follow the “Current Happenings” link.
22.
A. Arons, Teaching Introductory Physics (Wiley, New York, 1997). In particular, see Chap. 1 for the emphasis placed on linear trends and student reasoning of graphs.
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