This clarification of the aims and principles of inquiry/discovery teaching was
subsequently used by Ford Teaching Project teachers as a framework for gathering
and analysing data about the problems of engaging students in inquiry/discovery
learning and testing strategies to ameliorate them. In the light of this, they were able
to identify the extent to which their teaching strategies constrained or facilitated such
learning, and to compare and contrast their experience across a range and variety of
classroom, school and curriculum contexts. Over time they were able to discern certain
universal patterns of interaction in each other’s classrooms that were problematic
for the realisation of their pedagogical aim, and to begin to experiment with
strategies for changing them in discussion with each other.
The following two examples illustrate the framework for the presentation of
findings.