Strategies
Inquiry-based Learning
Students improve their critical thinking skills by critiquing the experimental designs of their peers
Quote from Joe Dent, McGill University
What is it?
Inquiry-based learning is an instructional approach that enables students to learn through first-hand applied experimentation. This entails providing experience in observation, data information collection, as well as analytical and problem-solving skills. For inquiry-based learning to be effective, students need to understand how and why they are investigating a problem or scenario.
According to Banchi, H. and Bell, R. (2008) from their article “The Many Levels of Inquiry”, there are four forms of complexity to Inquiry-based learning: 1) Confirmation - wherein the instructor creates questions or activities which have a predetermined solution. The intention is to help students learn how to follow procedures, ...
Read More +Inquiry-based learning is an instructional approach that enables students to learn through first-hand applied experimentation. This entails providing experience in observation, data information collection, as well as analytical and problem-solving skills. For inquiry-based learning to be effective, students need to understand how and why they are investigating a problem or scenario.
According to Banchi, H. and Bell, R. (2008) from their article “The Many Levels of Inquiry”, there are four forms of complexity to Inquiry-based learning: 1) Confirmation - wherein the instructor creates questions or activities which have a predetermined solution. The intention is to help students learn how to follow procedures, collect information, and confirm results; 2) Structured - wherein the instructor provides students with the question and the method or procedure. However, students must develop their own conclusions through reviewing the information they have collected and analyzed; 3) Guided - wherein students are only given the research question and required to develop a procedure or method to evaluate the question and come to a conclusion or explanation. This type of inquiry is effective when students have been given the opportunity to learn and practice various ways to plan and evaluate a question or problem; 4) Open/True – wherein the students create the question, develop the procedures to assess the question and then present their results.
Purpose: By establishing the overall purpose of an inquiry, students can better comprehend and see the link from theory to practice.
Note: Instructors should use the level of Inquiry-based learning that best fits their student population.
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When to use it?
Context & Requirements
- Level
- All levels
- Discipline
- All disciplines
- Class size
- Dependent on activity and equipment needs
- Classroom settings
- Dependent on the type of activity
- Technological requirements
- Varies
Skills Promoted
- Collaborative learning
- Critical thinking
- Inquiry Learning
- Peer instruction
- Problem solving
Who’s using it?
SALTISE community members who use this strategy and are willing to share advice and/or resources.
| Level | University |
| Institution | McGill University |
| Discipline | Biology – Neurogenetics |
| Instructor | Joe Dent |
| Class size | Varies |
| Classroom setting | Laboratory with necessary equipment Activity: Experimental Design in Neurobiology |
| Resources used | View More |
| Level | College |
| Institution | Vanier College |
| Discipline | Physics – Mechanics |
| Instructor | Kevin Lenton |
| Class size | 30-40 |
| Classroom setting | Requires access to a vehicle and an empty stretch of parking lot Activity: Mass of A Car |
| Resources used | View More |
| Level | University |
| Institution | Concordia University |
| Discipline | Applied Human Sciences |
| Instructor | Caroline Samne |
| Class size | N/S |
| Classroom setting | Group problem solving; creating and asking relevant questions Activity: Action-Learning Sets |
| Resources used | View More |
Why use it?
Using inquiry-based learning helps students improve their critical thinking skills by critiquing the experimental designs of their peers. In a laboratory setting, students also learn how to write scientifically, and gain a hands-on understanding of the scientific method through designing and conducting experiments.
Students can be hesitant to critique each other, therefore, it needs to be clear that critiques are meant to help students improve their experiments and there are no negative consequences to defects in experimental design during peer review.
Helpful resources
Websites
Assessing Laboratory Learning. – Teaching Practice, University of Sydney
Lab-Based Learning. – Centre for Teaching and Learning, Queen’s University
Laboratory Teaching Guidelines – Stanford Teaching Commons, Office of the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning (VPTL)
References
Aktamış, H. & Acar, E. T. (2010). The effect of “laboratory practices in science teaching” course on development of prospective science teachers’ self- regulation skills. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2 (2), pp. 5549-5553.
Banchi, H. and Bell, R. (2008). The Many Levels of Inquiry. Science and Children, 46(2), 26-29.
Cantonwine, Emily G. (2014). Creating an Active Learning Environment in the Laboratory with Prepared Slides. The Plant Health Instructor, DOI: 10.1094/PHI-T-2014-1222-01..
Clancy, M., Titterton, N., Ryan, C., Slotta, J., & Linn, M. (2003). New roles for students, instructors, and computers in a lab-based introductory programming course. ACM SIGCSE Bulletin , Vol. 35, No. 1 (February) , pp. 132-136.
Davies, C. (2008). Learning and Teaching in Laboratories: An Engineering Subject Centre Guide. Higher Education Academy Engineering Subject Centre, Loughborough University..
Henige, K. (2011). Undergraduate student attitudes and perceptions toward low- and high-level inquiry exercise physiology teaching laboratory experiences.. Advances in Physiology Education..
Overbaugh, R. C., & Lin, S. (2006). Student characteristics, sense of community, and cognitive achievement in web-based and lab-based learning environments. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 39(2), 205-223.
Puttick, G., Drayton, B. & Cohen, E. D (2015). A Study of the Literature on Lab-Based Instruction in Biology. The American Biology Teacher, 77(1), January, 12-18, .