12 Opportunities and Challenges in Inquiry-Based Science Education

Jun 29, 2026

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Chapter 12 examines inquiry-based science education (IBSE) as a teaching approach for building students’ knowledge, understanding how scientific knowledge is produced, and strengthening scientific literacy. It outlines the framework defining IBSE, the educational benefits it supports (critical thinking, engagement, motivation, socio-scientific discussion) and the challenges it poses for students and teachers. The chapter then reviews IBSE in Latin America, analyzes curriculum and practice issues, and presents contextualized classroom examples by educational level.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages28

Reading Time1 h 11 min

Introduction

Inquiry-Based Science Education

FAQs

What is inquiry-based science education (IBSE) designed to achieve?

IBSE helps students construct knowledge and engage in scientific practices by raising questions, developing hypotheses, designing strategies, and analyzing results. It supports understanding the processes behind knowledge generation and improves scientific literacy.

How is “scientific inquiry” defined in the chapter?

The chapter cites Windschitl’s view of inquiry as raising questions, generating hypotheses, designing research, collecting and analyzing data to solve problems. It also references a sociocultural perspective emphasizing community validation and evidence-based, tentative explanations.

What opportunities and challenges does the chapter highlight for IBSE implementation?

Opportunities include increased engagement, motivation, critical thinking, and meaningful learning through contextualized inquiry and socio-scientific discussion. Challenges focus on limitations such as curriculum relevance and issues in educational practice, especially for curriculum development and for teachers and students.

Jun 29, 2026

Upload by Jiven