Inquiry-Based Teaching. The Standards state that "inquiry into authentic
questions generated from student experiences is the central strategy for teaching
science." However, the importance of inquiry "does not imply that all teachers
should pursue a single approach to teaching science." Inquiry is a characteristic
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Appendix B | Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards: A Guid...ence, Mathematics, and Engineering Education | National Research Council
of both a desired form of teaching and particular kinds of classroom activities. It
can be used to teach (1) subject matter of physical, life, earth and space
sciences, (2) the nature of the scientific enterprise (i.e., about scientific inquiry),
and (3) the abilities required to conduct scientific inquiry. Inquiry-based
teaching is a means, not an end.