Inquiry based eduction??

Question

If you teach, could you give me your take on inquiry based education? Any good websites/periodicals you use? Success...or not so much? I am especially interested in high school level sciences. Thanks so much!

Answer 1

I teach elementary, but the ideas are basically the same behind them both. I'm actually taking a science in the elementary classroom class right now and I've been learning more about it. Inquiry based instruction definitely needs to be balanced with content, but it really depends on the topic for what that balance should be. Some topics are very easy to do hands-on inquiry learning, whereas some really aren't. I read a really good article for class. It may be hard to find. It was from Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development September 2004. The article is called "Inquiring Scientists Want to Know." If you can find it, I thought it was quite useful. We were also given a format for writing up inquiry lessons which might be of use to you. You can find it at this website. It is the first Word document called "Overview of 5 E Lesson Components." There are also a bunch of elementary lesson examples under it. They're not organized by grade level, though. I haven't used as much inquiry learning in my classroom, but I have been trying to incorporate it more. From what I've seen I think it's going to be very useful because people are naturally inquisitive. It means more to them when they can figure it out themselves.

http://www.augusta.k12.va.us/66877372584019/FileLib/browse.asp?A=374&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&C=60793

Answer 2

I'd say its excellant--which is why its been the standardd method for teaching--especially science--for most of a century.

That may surprise you. But "inquiry-based" education--in science at least--is simply a neologism for the old method of combining class content--espeiallly theory--with hadds-on lab work. So--its great--you need both theory, classwork, AND hand-on work for a full learning experience. Just don't get impressed by the current buzzwords!

One caveat. Often succh "approaches" are a cover--or an excuse--for not bringing an adequate theoritical or methodological understanding of the subject. Too often, teachers get so wrapped up in "hands-on" or "problem-solveing" approaches that they neglect to ensure that the underlying theory and method are being learned. I teach in a technical university--and believe me, if the students don't get the theory, the rest is a waste of time.