Celebrating Science - A Family Science Project
Contemporary Science Education
Why Involve Families?
Defining Inquiry-based Science
What an Inquiry-based Classroom Looks Like
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  Contemporary Science Education

Today, contemporary science education supports educating all students, with a particular emphasis on closing the achievement gap and increasing participation of those students historically underrepresented in the sciences. Curriculum and teaching approaches have changed over the past two decades and these changes are supported by educational research and student achievement data. By attending to the learning of all students, not only is our education system filling the pipelines to science and engineering colleges and our national workforce, but it supports the development of a literate citizenry with an ability to think critically and continually learn. Simply put, contemporary science education is preparing citizens and the workforce for the future.

From the educational research on how people learn, it is known that passive reading or listening to lectures is not enough to form a lasting understanding of scientific principles or develop scientific skills. Rather, learning must be student–centered. This entails actively constructing new knowledge by connecting old ideas and beliefs to new information gained through personal investigations and discovery provided through classroom experiences. In the process, students are developing critical–thinking, problem–solving and collaboration skills, which are applicable in all types of learning environments.

This contemporary way of teaching and learning has been described as inquiry–based science and is the central component of this resource. Research demonstrates that by infusing science programs with inquiry, significant improvements in scientific achievement occurs for all students, perhaps most significantly among those underrepresented populations, and contributes to students' overall success in school.

Hence, understanding inquiry-based science in the context of classroom learning is fundamental in encouraging community participation in science education.
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