A recent report from Ofsted provides an analysis of the successful application of inquiry based learning to science education.
" Physicians take an oath that commits them to
‘first do no harm’. The best science teachers, seen as part of this survey, set
out to ‘first maintain curiosity’ in their pupils. The most successful schools
visited during this survey had adopted this as a key principle in teaching
science and this not only fostered enthusiasm for the subject in their pupils
but helped them to fulfil their potential.
We need better science education to secure a
strong foundation for a successful and technological society. The new National
Curriculum for 2014 sets out why we teach science in schools:
‘A high-quality
science education provides the foundations for understanding the world through
the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Science has changed
our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all pupils should
be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of
science. Through building up a body of key
foundational knowledge and concepts, pupils should be encouraged to recognise
the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and
curiosity about natural phenomena. They should be encouraged to understand how
science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will
behave, and analyse causes.’
This report highlights the importance of
teaching science for understanding. For pupils to achieve well in science, they
must not only acquire the necessary knowledge, but also understand its value,
enjoy the experience of working scientifically, and sustain their interest in
learning it. Pupils in schools need to discover the concepts revealed through
observing scientific phenomena and conducting experimental investigations for
themselves. Then they are more likely to continue to study science and use that
learning for work, for family, and to contribute as informed citizens."
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