Hong Kong's Education Bureau defines inquiry learning as a
student-centered approach that helps students to integrate knowledge
and values in the learning of general studies (Education and
Manpower Bureau, 2002). In the inquiry process, students are active
constructors of knowledge, and the teacher is a facilitator of their
learning. Instead of having the teacher give the right answers, the students have to raise questions, find their own answers, and look for
necessary information. They are engaged in identifying problems,
collecting information, and solving the problems they encounter. A
specific example of how inquiry-based learning can be applied in the
classroom setting is through the use of group projects (Krajcik et al.,
1998). Projects can capture students' interests, provoke serious
thinking, and enable students to apply their knowledge in a
problem-solving context (David, 2008). Harada et al. (2008) claimed
that PjBL involves in-depth exploration of issues, themes, or problems
without predefined answers. It facilitates the development of
ownership by giving students the chance to select topics that are
personally relevant and by giving them a sense of responsibility to
take charge of their own learning (Alloway et al., 1996).