Uncovering Student Ideas

I just finished Volume 4 of Uncovering Student Ideas in Science. The book has gone to press and should be ready for the NSTA New Orleans Conference in March 2009. There is now a collection of 100 formative assessment probes! As I travel around the country talking with teachers and working with school districts and various science projects, I am really amazed at how many people are using the probes and the impact they have made on teaching. Furthermore, I love to hear the stories of how the probes have changed the nature of the classroom- students being more engaged and willing to surface their ideas; respect for all ideas, whether right or wrong; a change from teacher-directed discussons to student led, etc. I’d love to hear from you. What changes have you noticed in your students when using the probes? What changes have you made as a teacher as you have used the probes?