Contriving Instruction Strategy of Open Inquiry in Elementary School and Its Application

Abstract

2007 revised science curriculum includes Open-Inquiry approach to increase students' interest in science and build up creativity, by having students choose the topic which they are interested in and study it on their own. To contrive effective instruction strategy of Open-Inquiry, we have researched substances, scopes and recommended teaching methods in the national science curriculum. Then we have examined the references on the teaching and learning of open inquiry as well as pilot instruction we did for small scale. We suggested instruction strategy of open inquiry, planned lessons according to the strategy, and put them into practice. We gave the test to the students about the Science-Related Attitudes and the Ability of Science inquiry and studied about how Science Inquiry approach has influenced the students on their studies. As the results of the study, first, we found out that those who had an experience of open inquiry showed meaningful change in the science-related attitude and the ability of science inquiry. The result says that the instruction strategy shall be helpful if it is used properly. In addition, the strategy can be also useful in teaching gifted in science as well as general students.