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Five Essential Features of Inquiry

Five Essential Teacher Centered Teacher Driven Teacher Guided Student Centered
Features of Inquiry (A) (B) (C) (D)

1. Learner engages in Question provided by Learner sharpens or Learner selects among Learner poses a question
a scientifically oriented teacher, materials, or clarifies question questions, poses new
question other source provided by teacher, questions
materials, or other source

2. Learner gives Data provided by teacher Data provided by teacher Learner directed to collect Learner determines what
priority to evidence in and told how to analyze and asked to analyze certain data constitutes evidence and
responding to questions collects it

3. Learner formulates Evidence provided by Learner given possible Learner guided in the Learner formulates
explanations from teacher ways to use evidence to process of formulating explanation after
evidence formulate explanation explanation from summarizing evidence
evidence

4. Learner connects All connections provided Possible connections Learner directed toward Learner
explanation to scientific by teacher provided by teacher areas and sources of independently examines
knowledge scientific knowledge other resources and forms
the links to explanations

5. Learner Step and procedures for Broad guidelines to Learner coached in Learner formulates
communicates communication provided sharpen presentation development of reasonable and logical
and justifies by teacher provided by teacher communication argument to communicate
explanations explanation

(Adapted from: National Research Council. 2000. Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards, A Guide for Teaching and Learning. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, P. 29)