Approaches to inquiry teaching: Elementary teacher's perspectives

Journal article


Ireland, Joseph, Watters, James Joseph, Brownlee, Joanna Lunn and Lupton, Mandy. (2014). Approaches to inquiry teaching: Elementary teacher's perspectives. International Journal of Science Education. 36(10), pp. 1733 - 1750. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2013.877618
AuthorsIreland, Joseph, Watters, James Joseph, Brownlee, Joanna Lunn and Lupton, Mandy
Abstract

Learning science through the process of inquiry is advocated in curriculum documents across many jurisdictions. However, a number of studies suggest that teachers struggle to help students engage in inquiry practices. This is not surprising as many teachers of science have not engaged in scientific inquiry and possibly hold naïve ideas about what constitutes scientific inquiry. This study investigates teachers' self-reported approaches to teaching science through inquiry. Phenomenographic interviews undertaken with 20 elementary teachers revealed teachers identified six approaches to teaching for inquiry, clustered within three categories. These approaches were categorized as Free and Illustrated Inquiries as part of an Experience-centered category, Solution and Method Inquiries as part of a Problem-centered category, and Topic and Chaperoned Inquiries as part of a Question-centered category. This study contributes to our theoretical understanding of how teachers approach Inquiry Teaching and suggests fertile areas of future research into this valued and influential phenomenon broadly known as ‘Inquiry Teaching'.

Keywordsinquiry teaching; inquiry approach; inquiry stance; elementary science; primary science; teacher's conceptions; phenomenography
Year2014
JournalInternational Journal of Science Education
Journal citation36 (10), pp. 1733 - 1750
PublisherTaylor and Francis Ltd
ISSN0950-0693
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2013.877618
Scopus EID2-s2.0-84901692614
Page range1733 - 1750
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Place of publicationUnited Kingdom
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https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/88v1v/approaches-to-inquiry-teaching-elementary-teacher-s-perspectives

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