Inquiry-based learning is a teaching-learning methodology through which the students must find solutions for a problem situation based on a research project. This methodology focuses on facing problems and the cooperative work by the student. Inquiry-based learning strengthens working on abilities required from a worker in a changing world: a decisive person, who knows how to work in a team and has a critical thinking. At the same time it is a methodology that provides bigger ability in scientific and mathematical processes.

There are several ways to work under this methodology: the inquiry may be managed by the students, by the teacher, or by both. In any case it must be kept in mind that learning requires time for its comprehension and, therefore, it is essential to create spaces for reflection.

In order to develop inquiry-based knowledge, the problems will be formulated firstly and, from this point, the student body will have to suggest hypotheses which they will have to validate or reject by means of observation, examining books, searching for empirical proofs, interpreting data and, from this point, suggest answers and predictions and expound them in an argued way.

 

Examples of the implementation of this methodology

Sampson, V., Grooms, J. and Walker, J. P. (2011), Argument-Driven Inquiry as a way to help students learn how to participate in scientific argumentation and craft written arguments: An exploratory study. Science Education, 95: 217–257. doi: 10.1002/sce.20421 Consult it here.

Chang, J. -M.(2011) 'A practical approach to inquiry-based learning in linear algebra', International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 42: 2, 245 — 259, First published on: 29 November 2010. DOI: 10.1080/0020739X.2010.519795 Consult it here.

 

Collaborative Moore Method focusing on mathematical subjects

Paco Gómez, teacher of the Polytechnic University of Madrid and experienced on the application of the Collaborative Moore Method in mathematical subjects, was at ESUP June 2013.

By clicking here you will access the workshop's material (in Spanish)

For more information, consult his website.