The Private Eye Project is a research based educational program created by Kerry Ruef in 1988. Founded in both

inquiry-based learning Inquiry-based learning (also spelled as enquiry-based learning in British English) is a form of active learning that starts by posing questions, problems or scenarios. It contrasts with traditional education, which generally relies on the teache ...

and

active learning Active learning is "a method of learning in which students are actively or experientially involved in the learning process and where there are different levels of active learning, depending on student involvement." states that "students partici ...

approaches, it is designed to accelerate student learning by the development of critical thinking skills, creativity, literacy, and scientific literacy. Some of the main themes are "close observation", "thinking by

analogy Analogy (from Greek ''analogia'', "proportion", from ''ana-'' "upon, according to" lso "against", "anew"+ ''logos'' "ratio" lso "word, speech, reckoning" is a cognitive process of transferring information or meaning from a particular subject ( ...

", "hands-on investigation", "changing scale", and "theorizing". One of the main tools used in the program for enhancing close observation is a

loupe A loupe ( ) is a simple, small magnification device used to see small details more closely. They generally have higher magnification than a magnifying glass, and are designed to be held or worn close to the eye. A loupe does not have an attached h ...

. The first three and one half years were grant-funded by the Discuren Charitable Foundation and piloted in the

Seattle Public Schools Seattle Public Schools is the largest Public school (government funded), public school district in the state of Washington (state), Washington. The school district serves almost all of Seattle. Additionally it includes sections of Boulevard Park, ...

. As of October 2010, The Private Eye Project has been used by thousands of teachers and over 3 million students. The Private Eye Project is both a curriculum and staff development program; its teacher-training component is also distributed via university school of education programs. And, it has been recognized positively by many university department directors, professors, and professional scientists, as well as numerous teachers and administrators;

Fritjof Capra Fritjof Capra (born February 1, 1939) is an Austrian-born American physicist, systems theorist and deep ecologist. In 1995, he became a founding director of the Center for Ecoliteracy in Berkeley, California. He is on the faculty of Schumacher ...

says the pattern-recognition skills embedded in The Private Eye are central to learning systems thinking; George Nelson calls it an exciting approach to ... the art of mathematical and scientific thinking which should be a part of every school. It is viewed as a powerful program for fostering ecoliteracy. It is considered an innovative program for teaching thinking. The methodology of The Private Eye Project is sometimes referenced in discussions of creativity and critical thinking. In May 2015 The Private Eye was featured in Microscopy Today, the journal of the

Microscopy Society of America The Microscopy Society of America (MSA) was founded in 1942 as The Electron Microscope Society of America and is a non-profit organization that provides microanalytical facilities for studies within the sciences. Currently, there are approximately 3 ...

Research basis

The Northwest Educational Technology Consortium lists The Private Eye Project first in the list of resources for research based strategies for effective instruction in critical thinking. SEDL, formerly the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, includes the materials of The Private Eye Project in its "Science After School" list of resources for advancing research, improving education. Education Resources Information Center lists The Private Eye Project as an educational resource.

References

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External links

The Research Basis of the Private Eye

The Private Eye and The Interdisciplinary Mind Video on YouTube
Education in the United States