Inquiry-based learning engages students by encouraging curiosity, scientific thinking, and problem-solving. Students ask questions, simplify complex problems, collect and analyze data, and share findings. The traditional classroom, where teachers provide instructions, is contrasted with this approach. In this module, teachers experience inquiry-based learning themselves, reflecting on role shifts needed in the classroom. The goal is to transfer this student-centered, hands-on approach to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Module 1 includes a session guide and handout for teachers as well as a lesson plan and sample classroom materials. In addition, this module includes two video sequences where the student-led inquiry approach is carried out in a classroom.
Guide
Handout
Lesson Plan
Activity B Slides
Video 1 Activity C
Video 2 Activity C
About Primas
The Primas Project ran from 2010-2013 and was funded under the EU´s 7th Framework Programme for Research. An important part of the work of PRIMAS has been to provide teachers with professional development programmes that can support them in integrating and applying inquiry-based learning approaches in their mathematics and science classrooms.
A total of 7 modules have been developed. These modules deal with some of the pedagogical challenges that arise when introducing IBL activities to the classroom. The intention is that, as part of the Professional Development (PD) process, teachers will plan inquiry-based lessons to use with their own class and, at a later meeting, report back on their experiences.
Click here for other modules in this project.
Copyright: Centre for Research in Mathematics Education, University of Nottingham (responsible for content: ICSE, Director: Prof. Dr. Katja Maass)
Image source: Own illustration (ICSE)
Content-related competences
