Inquiry-Based Science Instruction Workshop

The Indiana Academic Standards for Science and the Next Generation Science Standards emphasize inquiry as a prominent instructional method and a defining characteristic of science. This workshop introduces teachers to the concept and structure of inquiry-learning, provides a variety of "sample" inquiry-based activities, and offers an opportunity for teachers to modify a component of their current curriculum.

Objectives for the Inquiry Workshop

• Define Inquiry in science and academic standards
• Participate in inquiry-based based activities
• Look at the National Research Council variations of inquiry
• Examine materials and activities using inquiry-based perspective
• Create and modify activities to include more inquiry
• Illustrate how Indiana Academic Standards and Next Generation Science Standards fit with inquiry-based science
• Provide resources for including inquiry in science classrooms

Over 300 teachers have participated in the Inquiry Workshop since 2004. Survey results following the workshop indicate that over 95% of the participants implement ideas from the workshop in their classrooms including sample inquiry-based lessons and methods for modifying current lessons to include inquiry.