Addressing the challenges of inquiry-based learning through technology and curriculum design
Journal of the Learning Sciences, 8 (3):
391-450 (1999)Abstract
Inquiry experiences can provide valuable opportunities for students to improve their
understanding of both science content and scientific practices. However, the
implementation of inquiry learning in classrooms presents a number of significant
challenges. We have been exploring these challenges through a program of research on
the use of scientific visualization technologies to support inquiry-based learning in the
geosciences. In this paper, we describe five significant challenges to implementing
inquiry-based learning and present strategies for addressing them through the design of
technology and curriculum. We present a design history covering four generations of
software and curriculum to show how these challenges arise in classrooms and how the
design strategies respond to them.