Why Inquiry?

I was bored in high school. I was frustrated by the regimentation and repetition, the wasted time, the filmstrips and worksheets, the superficiality of much of it. There were a few moments of joyful learning. Once we were told to make a presentation in science about anything of interest to us. I don't remember getting any more direction than that. I chose DNA. I made a visual aid with Velcro that illustrated how the structure unzipped. Another time, a teacher let me bring in giant mayo jars I collected from restaurants and allowed me to lead my classmates in making terrariums. Once our science class was moved to the shop and we were left to ourselves for several weeks to do as we pleased. I chose to draw floor plans for futuristic houses. In the end, it must have been deemed a failure: we were returned to our classroom and no other science class ever went to that shop again. I now find myself reflecting on that however poorly these experiments in inquiry were implemented; those few bright spots had a big impact on me. I am sorry those teachers don't know that I grew up to be a molecular biologist, a science teacher and the designer-builder of two houses.

My Most Significant Professional Accomplishment

Potato chips are being gleefully pounded by mortar and pestle in one corner and a heated discussion about the boiling points of the constituents of wine is underway in another. My most significant professional accomplishment is joyful learning. Moments like these can come when students design their own laboratory investigations based upon an interesting challenge or at an exhibition after working long and hard on a project. They happen regularly when students are pressed to construct their own understanding. After refusing to give a direct answer but having instead pushed a student with a challenge, I feel joy when I hear; "Oh, now I get it!" The process can be challenging yet the result is always sufficient to reward.

If you are ready to get started using an inquiry-based approach to learning:
Guided Inquiry Chemistry Lessons
Institute for Inquiry at The Exploratorium
Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards:  A Guide for Teaching and Learning
Teaching Inquiry-Based Chemistry