An Overview of Inquiry Learning in Science

Classroom strategies used in inquiry learning

• Should encourage student interaction • Should encourage students to construct

their own knowledge and be responsible for their learning

• Should ask questions rather than give direction

• Should be fun

What is Inquiry Learning in Science?

• Teaching in a way that inductive learning begins before deductive learning.

• Connecting real-life experiences in a meaningful way to the science students are learning in class

• Doing activities that emphasize a positive attitude to science

Teachers who use inquiry learning

• Encourage students to construct their own understanding of the material with teacher guidance and in collaboration with others

• Use a variety of teaching strategies

Exploring and creating your own inquiry activities

Inquiry in science may involve lab, research, on-line, in-class or field trip activities. In the following slides you will be asked to explore some sites dedicated to inquiry learning and then to find two additional sites that offer inquiry activities related to the curriculum you will teach.

Technology and Inquiry Virtual Labs

• Many academic institutions provide virtual laboratories that are available online

• Provide an effective way of exposing students to laboratory techniques that are not feasible at the middle or high school level

• Many of these programs are interactive and simulate real-life laboratories, however many are mechanical in nature and do not encourage the students through a guided-inquiry experience

One example of an Inquiry Based Virtual lab environment

• www.wise.berkeley.edu• Web-Based Inquiry Science Environment• Curriculum projects in all disciplines of

science from grades 5-12• Students engage in activity by discussing their

ideas and taking notes online• Teachers have access to student work, which

can then be assessed

A second example of an Inquiry based virtual lab environment• Howard Hughes Medical Institute

http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/vlabs

Task 1: Explore these sites and write a reflection as outlined in your Blackboard course

Task 2: Find 2 more lab-based inquiry activities on-line that are related to the curriculum you will teach. Share these sites and write a summary as outlined in your Blackboard course

Inquiry and Problem-Based Learning

• Case study analysis of a relevant issue• http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/case.html• Go to UB case study collection• Explore some case studies related to the course you will be

teaching

• This site offers a wide variety of case studies with informative summaries of each one. Explore the site.

Task 3: Comment on 2 of the case studies that would be applicable to the course you will teach as outlined in your blackboard course.

Task 4: Find one more problem based site applicable to the course you will teach. Share the site and write a summary as outlined in your course.

Conclusion

• Guided Inquiry Learning demands that students think about what they are learning and are active in the learning process.