Why Inquiry?

What is Inquiry-based Science?

Inquiry features:

Questions for which answers are not already entirely known by the students and/or teachers before the learning begins.

2000 American Geological Institute

Support for Inquiry-based Science

The National Science Education Standards

have designated inquiry as the first “science

content” standard for all grade levels.

What do students do in inquiry-based science investigations?

Students investigate questions posed by a teacher or curriculum (guided inquiry).

Students come up with their own testable questions to investigate (full inquiry).

As far as possible, students investigate questions using hands-on activities.

What are the advantages of inquiry-based science?

Students gain problem-solving skills that are important in the workforce.

Students become independent learners in charge of their own knowledge.

Students learn to ask testable questions and explore these in a scientific way.

Students learn to work as collaborative teams.

Some things to expect…

Students will make new connections between activities and content information.

Students will extend activities in creative ways.

Students will share their knowledge to solve problems.

Some things to expect…

The learning environment becomes more student-centered.

Your role changes to that of a facilitator, rather than a director of instruction.

You have greater opportunities to use performance assessment to gauge student understanding.