By definition, inquiry is the intentional process of diagnosing problems, critiquing experiments, and distinguishing alternatives, planning investigations, researching conjectures, searching for information, constructing models, debating with peers, and forming coherent arguments.
Inquiry-Based Science Education (IBSE) is a problem-based approach but goes beyond it with the importance given to the experimental approach. (”Science Education NOW: A renewed Pedagogy for the Future of Europe”, European Commission, 2007). Click here or on the image to see how to develop a Lesson plan with Inquiry in mind |
Stages in Inquiry Lesson Planning
1. Develop a good question based on prior learning and observation 2. Develop an Informed Hypothesis from the good question 3. Design an experiment to test the hypothesis 4. Complete the experiment and gather data 5. Analyse the data in relation to the Hypothesis 6. Confirm or modify the Hypothesis |