Memory of your time in K-12 classrooms probably conjures up
visions of memorizing facts and regurgitating them for exams.
In particular, science labs often consisted of a box of
equipment, a set of instructions, and the correct conclusion. Wrong answers
resulted in error analyses and feelings of shame.
Upon venturing into the science education world, I’ve repeatedly
heard the words “inquiry” and “inquiry-based learning” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inquiry-based_learning).
Inquiry-based learning is very opposite to traditional
learning, and science is the subject most conducive to inquiry-based inquiry or
open learning. In this type of classroom, there are no right or wrong answers.
Students are given the box of equipment with no instructions. They spend class
time exploring and then develop questions and theories based on their observations.
