Inquiry is beginning to take hold in America’s science classrooms. Textbooks are beginning to include inquiry. State and national assessments are shifting toward inquiry. Science teachers are beginning to hear about inquiry consistently in the professional development they receive. How do we know, though, that inquiry is valuable for our students?

This site helps you understand the evidence for inquiry. You’ll find three major divisions to the site. Evidence from Experience helps you see the evidence of the need for inquiry. National and International Evidence shows the mandate for change given by the performance data of American students. Evidence from Cognitive Science and Science Education Research digs deeper into the research supporting a move to inquiry.

So, dig in. Ask hard questions. Find answers to some of the complex issues facing American teachers and students. In other words, do some inquiry about inquiry itself.

Additional Inquiry Resources

DeMystifying Inquiry: This brief document helps you get a better sense of the different kinds of inquiry. Look here especially if you're concerned about inquiry being chaotic and frustrating for your students. You're probably thinking about open-ended inquiry, and there are other kinds of inquiry that are not chaotic.

Inquiry Resources: Inquiry curricula, professional development resources, and readings to help you better understand and implement inquiry.

Never Give In Blog: Updates on inquiry, including new resources.