INQUIRY COMPETENCIES - ESSENTIAL FEATURES

Essential Features of Classroom Inquiry and Their Variations

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Essential More ⇦-------------------- Amount of Learner Self-Direction --------------------⇨Less

Features Less ⇦--------------- Amount of Direction from Teacher or Material ---------------⇨
More
Variations

1. Learner Learner poses Learner selects Learner sharpens Learner engages

engages in a question among questions, or clarifies in question
scientifically poses new question provided by
oriented questions questions provided by teacher, materials,
teacher, materials, or other source
or other source

2. Learner gives Learner Learner directed Learner given Learner given

priority to determines to collect certain data and asked data and told
evidence in what constitutes data to analyze how to analyze
responding to evidence and
questions collects it

3. Learner Learner Learner guided Learner given Learner provided

formulates formulates in process of possible ways with evidence
explanations explanation after formulating to use evidence
from evidence summarizing explanations to formulate
evidence from evidence explanation

4. Learner Learner Learner directed Learner given Learner given

connects independently toward areas and possible all connections
explanations examines other sources of connections
to scientific resources and scientific
knowledge forms the links to knowledge
explanations

5. Learner Learner forms Learner coached Learner provided Learner given

communicates reasonable and in development of with broad steps and
and justifies logical argument communication guidelines to procedures for
explanations to communicate use to sharpen communication
explanations communication

National Research Council (2000). Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards: A
Guide for Teaching and Learning. Table 2-6. p 29.
http://www.sedl.org/afterschool/toolkits/science/pdf/ast_sci_inquiry_table.pdf