Finally, action research has the advantage of developing a culture of inquiry in the school and reflective educational practice on the part of the classroom teacher. Through action research, several new techniques have developed which help increase the level of inquiry in the classroom. One of these new techniques is concept mapping, where students take a major concept and, in a web or chart format, break down the major concept into smaller concepts and link all these concepts together with the use of connecting words. While concept mapping lends itself especially well to the sciences, it has equal merit in other subjects as well. Another technique (which incidentally has its origins in the sciences) that has raised the level of inquiry in the classroom is the learning cycle. This technique involves introducing a concept by first giving students information on a concept and giving time for them to explore it on their own or in groups. Then, the educator comes back and asks about what the students have gathered about the concepts and fills in any details the students may have missed. The final stage involves further exploration of the concept. Both these approaches have a higher level of inquiry that teacher-centred teaching techniques such as lecturing. They are also more meaningful because students are actively engaged in the learning process instead of just a passive observer. Hence, action research can be thought of as responsible for many of the innovations in pedagogy we now have at our disposal as present and future teachers.