When the term inquiry comes up in conversations about science curriculum reform and improvement, it usually is shorthand for inquiry-based learning and, by extension, inquiry-based instruction. But, what exactly is meant by inquiry-based learning? Inquiry is more than a collection of teaching techniques and classroom principles, it is a mind-set. The instructor focuses on developing the abilities and skills of the learner to use knowledge effectively. This chapter provides a brief outline of the fundamental differences between inquiry and traditional didactic teaching and the key features of the major inquiry-based instructional styles.
Details
Type Book ChapterPub Date 3/1/2009Stock # PB232X_ch1