Inquiry-based Science Education Research Articles

Advancing scientific literacy: Integrating nature of science and nature of scientific inquiry in teaching Griffith’s and Avery-MacLeod-McCarty experiments

The present study aims to design an instruction that engages nature of science (NOS) and nature of scientific inquiry (NOSI) learning objectives with the teaching and learning of important historical experiments taught around the world and presented in most biology textbooks such as those by Griffith and by Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty. The design process involves decisions about which NOS and NOSI aspects to teach and decisions about how to teach. With respect to the latter decisions, our preference is an explicit/reflective perspective used in an overarching inquiry-based science teaching and history of science instructional context. The proposed course is going to provide high school students meaningful and practical inquiry-based experiences through the use of simulated experiments and would help their teachers (a) illuminate several procedural aspects of the taught experiments (b) internalize the importance of teaching NOS and NOSI aspects (c) acquire an integrative understanding of the process of scientific inquiry and the product of that inquiry, namely scientific knowledge, and (d) portray science less as a body of knowledge and more as a creative process involving human and non-human actors. The potential benefits of our proposed instruction for learners’ scientific literacy are also discussed.

Measuring Self-Efficacy Beliefs in Teaching Inquiry-Based Science and the Nature of Scientific Inquiry

AbstractInquiry-based science teaching (IBST) is a key goal of science education reforms worldwide. Recent research highlights the importance of infusing inquiry teaching with knowledge about the nature of scientific inquiry, and not just focusing on procedural skills to do inquiry. However, such an endeavour requires teachers to have high levels of self-efficacy. Given the lack of valid and reliable measurement instruments for Spanish-speaking teachers, the present study adapted and validated Aydeniz et al. Science and Education, 30(1), 103–120, (2021) Inquiry-Based Science Teaching Efficacy Scale (IBSTES, Science & Education, 30:103–120). Confirmatory factor analysis on data from 428 pre-service teachers in kindergarten and elementary school revealed a two-factor structure, which is consistent with the conceptual framework of IBST. The two factors measured self-efficacy beliefs regarding (1) helping students improve their understanding of the nature of scientific inquiry and (2) helping students develop procedural skills for conducting scientific inquiry. Both factors demonstrated very high reliability (> 0.90), as assessed by Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega. This latent structure was invariant across genders, suggesting that the instrument can be used with both male and female prospective teachers, allowing for gender comparisons. This study is the first of its kind to validate in Spanish a self-efficacy scale for IBST that specifically tackles the epistemological understanding of the nature of scientific inquiry. The Spanish IBSTES provides a valuable tool for researchers and practitioners to assess and support teacher self-efficacy, which is essential for the success of educational reforms.

Design and validation of the scales of a Spanish-adapted questionnaire to measure pre-service teachers’ perceptions about inquiry-based science education

ABSTRACT This research focused on the pre-service science teachers’ perceptions of Inquiry-Based Science Education (IBSE) in Spanish-speaking contexts. Drawing on the PRIMAS questionnaire and extensive adaptations, the PTIP questionnaire, a 25-item instrument was developed to gauge pre-service teachers’ perspectives on IBSE. The questionnaire effectively measures four dimensions through rigorous statistical validation: IBSE teaching practice, IBSE students’ applicability, and internal and external difficulties associated with the inquiry approach. Employing K-means cluster analysis, three distinct profiles emerged, elucidating pre-service teachers’ varying perceptions and readiness to embrace IBSE. Profile A embodies fervent advocates of IBSE, while profile B and C showcases strong support with moderate reservations about its challenges and a more ambivalent stance, respectively. This research contributes a valuable tool for understanding and enhancing pre-service teacher education, fostering the adoption of IBSE.

Educational Transformation: Refocusing Research, Innovation, Technology Integration and Social Inclusion – An Editorial

In the post-pandemic era, the world simultaneously witnessed a rapid move towards technological integration and global interconnectedness, alongside social-economic disparities and setbacks. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific progress extended beyond the healthcare industry and encompassed various domains of knowledge, including education. The pandemic accelerated the incorporation of ICT in education, an area that had lagged behind other sectors. Conversely, digital integration generates a disparity in knowledge acquisition between individuals who possess access to it and those who do not. This experience serves as a reminder that a considerable number of communities globally remain behind in terms of socioeconomic development and access to digital resources. This trend is especially evident in the global south, where the integration of numerous global educational innovations and approaches may further isolate an already marginalized community by failing to account for contextual factors. Providing this complexity of introducing innovative efforts to education, it is imperative to refocus contextual educational paradigms, employing a multimodal approach that intertwines research, innovation, technology integration, and social inclusion. The purpose of this editorial is to emphasize the importance of an all-encompassing educational approach that not only equips students for the challenges of the future but also cultivates a just, inventive, and resilient society. A total of 11 papers were selected to be published in this issue, which examines four significant domains of educational transformation: the integration of technology, innovative approaches, research in education, and the representation of perspectives from underrepresented groups in education. The increasing integration of technology in the field of education is evident in the articles that discuss ICT, media usage, and visual materials. Two papers revisit inquiry-based science instruction and school-home partnerships as educational strategies. Two publications centered on teachers' practice and intention research and action research exemplify the recent shift towards involving teachers in research activities, both in higher education and at the classroom level. Three additional papers investigate the perspectives of students and underprivileged groups who are often overlooked in the development of education procedures and policies. This journal issue, thus, represents the current focus, endeavors, and implementation of education across several educational disciplines. Teacher’s World: Journal of Education and Research, 49 (2),9-14

Inquiry-Based Science Education: Perspectives from Namibian Teachers

Inquiry-Based Science Education: Perspectives from Namibian Teachers

The IndagApp mobile app: an inquiry-based science teaching resource: usability evaluation with pre-service teachers

Virtual laboratories and simulations have emerged as innovative solutions for science teaching. However, existing resources have various limitations and constraints including cognitive load/mental burden and limited coverage of all necessary steps in scientific inquiry, focusing mainly on the experimental simulation. To bridge this gap and address these challenges, the present study introduces the design and usability evaluation of IndagApp, an innovative educational resource explicitly developed to support inquiry-based science teaching. A convergent mixed methods design and a convenience sampling of 90 pre-service teachers were used. The findings indicate that IndagApp exhibits a high level of technological and pedagogical usability. Feedback from the users was incorporated to improve the app, resulting in its final version, which incorporates best practices from existing literature on authentic inquiry-based science teaching. IndagApp is freely accessible in the Spanish language, and compatible with Android 5.0 + smartphones and tablets, as well as PCs running Windows 7 or above operating systems. This research provides a timely and significant educational resource that may assist educators in enacting reform-oriented teaching practices.

Significance of Experiments in Inquiry-based Science Teaching

Inquiry-based science teaching (IBST) has garnered considerable interest in recent years due to its ability to improve students’ comprehension of scientific ideas and procedures. Experiments are crucial in IBST since they are key instruments for promoting inquiry, investigation, and discovery in the classroom. This research thoroughly analyses the importance of experiments in IBST, focusing on how they encourage active involvement, critical thinking, and better conceptual comprehension in students. This study highlights the many advantages of experiments in IBST using theoretical frameworks, empirical research, and practical insights. It also provides advice for effectively implementing them in educational practice.

Optimizing inquiry-based science education: verifying the learning effectiveness of augmented reality and concept mapping in elementary school

Optimizing inquiry-based science education: verifying the learning effectiveness of augmented reality and concept mapping in elementary school

Emile’s inquiry-based science education

Abstract Over the past decades, science education researchers have suggested Inquiry-Based Science Education (IBSE) teaching interventions for science classes. In this article, we argue that IBSE’s basic principles can be traced back to Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s work Emile or On Education (1762). First, we will look at IBSE’s rationale. Then we will turn to Emile and outline Rousseau’s educational ideas concerning science education. We will show that Rousseau’s suggested practices for science education are very similar to those of IBSE. Yet despite their vivid similarities, Rousseau seems to pursue epistemic virtues, whilst IBSE aims at epistemic skills. However, nurturing epistemic skills might be seen as the first step for cultivating an epistemically virtuous character. So, embracing Rousseau’s ideal for full character development could further inspire IBSE’s proposals.

The relationships between the practice of different scientific activities and students’ scientific knowledge, inquiry skills, view of the nature of science and attitude towards science: a study in primary school

ABSTRACT Data from PISA and TIMSS have recently fuelled the debate on the efficacy of Inquiry-Based Science Teaching (IBST). Some analyses of these data show that the effects of different scientific activities related to IBST carried out with students vary according to the frequency of their implementation. Extending this research, the present study focuses on several scientific activities (Conception, Problem, Hypothesis, Model, Manipulation, Discussion-IBST, Interaction), some of which have not been considered previously. It investigates the extent to which these activities are implemented in teachers’ practices and their relationships with student learning. The study is based on self-reported practices of primary school teachers in France (98) and data on their students (2250) measuring their scientific knowledge, inquiry skills, views of the nature of science (NOS) and attitudes towards science. Findings show that teachers’ practices are diverse, with some teachers implementing scientific activities frequently and others rarely. However, no profile of teaching practices could be associated with high or low levels of student learning. The only scientific activity for which converging positive relationships with student learning were found was modelling. This finding calls for further studies to explore the relationships of the different modelling sub-practices with student learning.

Do science teachers’ believes related to inquiry-based teaching affect students’ science process skills? Evidence from a multilevel model analysis

AbstractInquiry-based science teaching has emerged as a prominent trend in science education. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain how teachers' self-efficacy in regard to the teaching of science as inquiry (TSI) affects students' science learning, especially considering the scarcity of research on its impact on students' Science Process Skills (SPSs). To investigate the impact of teachers' TSI on students' SPSs, this study conducted a questionnaire survey involving 539 eighth-grade students and 75 teachers from 7 junior high schools. Our Multilevel Model analysis results revealed a positive correlation between students' creative tendencies and SPSs. The results of the Cross-Level Moderation Models indicated that TSI moderated the relationship between students' creative tendencies and their SPSs, with this relationship strengthening as TSI increased. These study findings carry significant implications for both inquiry-based science education and teacher education.

Science Process Skills and Level of Knowledge of Primary Education Pupils

The research deals with the influence of inquiry-based science education (IBSE) implementation into science instruction in the 3rd grade of elementary school on the levels of pupils’ knowledge and science process skills. The research sample consisted of 395 pupils and 170 primary education teachers. The main research method was a pedagogical experiment. Other research methods were non-standardized didactic tests, observation and a questionnaire. The obtained results showed that the pupils’ science process skills increased in the experimental group due to the influence of IBSE. The research results may contribute to the effective implementation of this educational concept in the instruction of natural sciences at elementary schools, with the assumption of increasing pupils’ scientific literacy in international measurements.

Investigating student collaborative problem-solving competency and science achievement with multilevel modeling: Findings from PISA 2015

Collaborative problem-solving (CPS) competency is critical for 21st century students. However, reports from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 have revealed significant deficiencies in this competency among young students globally, indicating a critical need for the cultivation of CPS skills. Therefore, it is essential for educators and researchers to examine the factors that influence CPS competency and understand the potential role of CPS in secondary education. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between collaboration dispositions and students’ CPS competency as well as the relationships of CPS competency and inquiry-based science instruction (IBSI) with science achievement using the PISA 2015 data. A total of 408,148 students from 52 countries and economies (i.e., regions) were included in our analysis. Unlike most previous studies that only investigated one country at a time and neglected the multilevel data structure of PISA, this study provided a global view through adopting multilevel modeling to account for the cluster effect at the school and country levels. Our findings revealed that valuing relationship was positively associated with CPS, whereas valuing teamwork was negatively associated with CPS. Furthermore, CPS competency was found to be a dominant and positive predictor of science achievement among all study variables, underscoring the importance of integrating CPS into teaching practices to promote student success in science. Additionally, different IBSI activities show varying relationships with science achievement, indicating that caution should be taken when recommending any specific practices associated with IBSI to teachers.

The use of educational technology in inquiry-based elementary science education: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Technology has arisen as a powerful tool for enhancing student’s learning and engagement in science education, particularly in the context of elementary inquiry-based science education (IBSE). This systematic review examines the use of technology in elementary IBSE over the past decade, analyzing 22 empirical studies to identify research trends, explore relationships among inquiry phases and process skills, and identify examples of technology utilization and affordances. The study reveals that technology has mainly been used to support students’ observation and data interpretation skills during the investigation phase of inquiry. However, it also indicates that technology has the potential to support other science process skills in other phases of inquiry in a variety of ways. Supporting students to capture and collect data, providing learning materials, and linking the real-world context were the three predominant affordances. Furthermore, the analysis suggests research gaps in the use of emerging technology and insufficient attention paid to employing technology to support students’ modeling processes and the use of simulations. These findings point to the need for further investigation to fully explore the potential of technology in supporting students’ learning and engagement in elementary IBSE.

INQUIRY-BASED SCIENCE APPROACH IN KINDERGARTEN: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Inquiry-based learning is a pedagogical approach that empowers learners to actively construct knowledge by engaging in problem-solving, critical thinking, questioning, and hands-on experiences. The inquiry-based approach in science emphasizes learners' active role in creating their understanding of the natural world. This review critically examines the application and impact of inquiry-based science approaches in kindergarten education. Through a thorough analysis of 16 research articles, the study shed light on different aspects of inquiry-based learning, including subject areas, participants, methodologies, types of inquiry-based approaches, theoretical frameworks, and impacts on learning outcomes. Findings show a predominant focus on early years’ science, with kindergarten children being the primary participants. The use of qualitative research methods shows a trend toward a comprehensive understanding of the issue. The study underscore the significance of using inquiry-based learning approach in kindergarten education and offers helpful information for teachers, decision-makers, and researchers. It also emphasizes the need for further empirical studies, particularly those addressing instructional models, challenges faced in the classroom to execute inquiry-based learning, and longitudinal studies to evaluate the long-term impacts of inquiry-based science education on kindergarten children performance.

Curiosity-Driven, Inquiry-Based Science Projects Bridge Face-to-Face and Online Learning Formats During COVID-19: A Teacher's Community of Inquiry

This paper is a report on a year-long action research project with a Community of Inquiry where a group of teachers from across primary, secondary, and tertiary contexts were developing and implementing student-centered, curiosity-driven, inquiry-based science projects to bridge face-to-face and online learning contexts and support their students’ engagement in learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. We followed the teachers through two research cycles to investigate their driving question: “How can we best support our students’ learning in blended learning environments through Curiosity-Driven, Inquiry-Based Science Education?” We report on their ideas, successes, and challenges as they created and implemented eighteen projects. In the first cycle of inquiry in fall 2020, the teachers met online to discuss plans, they implemented their plans with their classes, and they met online to reflect on their projects and share resources. In the second cycle of inquiry in spring 2021, the teachers met online again for further planning, implementation, and reflection. We recorded all online meetings, collected resources that teachers shared, and conducted thematic analysis. Findings indicated the primary focus for the teachers were: which education technology methods to use; the importance of supporting their students’ voices to discuss their work at all stages of their projects; coming up with appropriate means of assessment of their students’ projects; supporting their students in their developing research and problem-solving skills; and supporting their students to reflect on their learning. This study is significant because it demonstrates the creativity and innovation of a group of teachers in their efforts to support their students’ engagement and learning through Curiosity-Driven, Inquiry-Based Science Education during the Covid-19 pandemic. The teachers’ projects have been shared on an Open Education Resource.

INQUIRY-BASED TEACHING IN SECONDARY SCIENCE

Inquiry-based science teaching shifts traditional classrooms by putting students in charge of their learning, promoting active exploration, critical thinking, and problem-solving. This approach deepens scientific understanding and cultivates a lifelong passion for science. Thus, this study aimed at establishing the status of the implementation of inquiry-based teaching in secondary science. Employing a descriptive research to 79 science teachers in the locale of this study, it is concluded that the respondents exhibit a commendable commitment to professional learning opportunities, with widespread availability and frequent utilization, underscoring a dedication to ongoing teacher development. Administrative support for inquiry-based learning is strong, characterized by a very high level of implementation, indicating active endorsement by school leadership. However, resources for inquiry instruction are moderately available, suggesting room for improvement in material accessibility and availability. Despite this supportive administrative environment and a classroom culture encouraging inquiry, teachers infrequently implement inquiry-based instruction, revealing a potential gap between administrative intent and classroom practice. In essence, while the study locale lays a robust foundation for promoting inquiry-based learning, bridging the disconnection between administrative support and teacher practice is essential for maximizing the impact of this innovative teaching approach in enhancing science education.

PD Days Under the Moon: Teaching Lunar Phases to In-Service Teachers by Doing Astronomy Like Astronomers Do and its Impact on Their Students’ Learning

Several school curricula urge K-12 teachers to engage their students in scientific inquiry activities that not only promote students’ learning in science, but also foster students’ understanding of science methodology. Unfortunately, recent large-scale studies have shown that inquiry-based science teaching in school is the exception, rather than the norm. This is especially true for astronomy, which teachers often consider too abstract and remote for inquiry-based teaching. To promote inquiry-based teaching in astronomy, we present an epistemological and historical analysis of the way astronomers build new knowledge and propose to teach astronomy through a scientific inquiry process consisting of “Doing astronomy like astronomers do”. This inquiry-based approach, which also includes observation, modelling, and communication with peers, emulates the different steps astronomers and scientists go through to do empirical science (question, hypothesis, observation, analysis/synthesis, modelling, prediction/application, and communication), transposed into a teaching and learning lesson plan about the phases of the Moon. The crucial steps of observation, analysis/synthesis, and modelling, where astronomers create models as proxies of astronomical objects that cannot be manipulated, is highlighted. This inquiry-based astronomy training, which also promotes conceptual change about lunar phases, was tested with 18 in-service elementary and high school teachers engaged in a professional development (PD) training program. Three participant teachers also taught lunar phases to their own elementary and high school students (N = 104) using the same approach. We present the results of a quasi-experimental study of the impacts of this PD training about lunar phases on the learning gains and self-efficacy of the participating in-service teachers, as well as on their students’ learning.

Meta-Analysis of the Influence of Science Teaching Materials Based on Inquiry Models on 21st Century Skills

The 21st century is the era of rapid knowledge, technology and talent development. Teaching materials are needed to increase these skills to support student learning. The research objective was to determine the effect of inquiry-based science teaching materials on 21st-century skills. The research method used was a meta-analysis of 32 articles in national and international journals. The results of the study obtained by varying the level of education, subjects, teaching materials used, and components of the 21st-century skills of the students stated that the use of inquiry model-based science teaching materials significantly influenced students' 21st-century skills. This meta-analysis research concludes that inquiry-based and educationally diverse science teaching materials significantly impacted students, impacted by science showing materials in light of request models with various, impacted by science guidance materials that utilise various showing strategies and depend on request models. The last skill components have a significant impact on students' 21st-century.

High school science teachers’ assessment literacy for inquiry-based science instruction

ABSTRACT Drawing upon the model for science teacher assessment literacy developed by [Abell, S. K., & Siegel, M. A. (2011). Assessment literacy: What science teachers need to know and be able to do. In The professional knowledge base of science teaching (pp. 205–221). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3927-9_12], this study explored science teachers' knowledge and practices of inquiry-based science instruction (IBSI) in Taiwan, and investigated the possible interactions among the categories of assessment literacy. Forty high school science teachers with relevant experience in IBSI participated in the study. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews and background questionnaires. We analysed the data and developed a coding scheme through both theory-oriented and data-oriented approaches. Four categories of teacher assessment literacy were explored, including assessment purposes, assessed learning outcomes, assessment strategies, and assessment scoring. The results indicated that, through formative assessments, teachers supported students' inquiry-based learning and self-regulated learning in a variety of ways. Furthermore, teachers not only used multiple data sources to assess students' learning performances, but also appreciated both subcategories of assessed learning outcomes - inquiry as means and inquiry as ends. The analysis also revealed some patterns of interactions among the categories of assessment literacy. Based on the findings, discussions and suggestions are provided.