The Singapore science syllabus does not provide a specific definition of inquiry
teaching. Instead it recognizes that the inquiry approach used is dependent on the
teaching goal such that ‘student-directed inquiry will provide the best opportunities
for cognitive development and scientific reasoning’, while ‘teacher-guided inquiry
can best focus learning on the development of particular science concepts’ (Ministry
of Education, 2007, p. 15). However, a study by Kim, Tan, and Talaue (2013) found
that the nature of assessment practices in Singapore, which largely takes the form of
paper-and-pencil format and focuses on canonical content knowledge, likely steers
teachers’ perceptions of inquiry towards a teacher-guided approach. In an examination
of actual science inquiry practices carried out in Singaporean primary school
classrooms, Poon, Lee, Tan, and Lim (2012) observed that teachers place importance
on (1) preparing students for the investigation cognitively (by eliciting prior knowledge
and reviewing relevant concepts) and procedurally (by reviewing skills for investigation,
equipment use, and group work); (2) addressing learning problems as they
arise by modifying the investigation or introducing new activities; and (3) synthesizing
concepts. Thus, in the context of this study, science inquiry is defined as guided
inquiry since that is the predominant perception and practice of inquiry held by teachers
in Singapore.