Fostering Inquiry-Based Education Methods in Science Education Through Evaluation Capacity-Building

• In Event: 79.050 - MTCC Roundtable Session 36
  In Roundtable Session: 79.050-8 - Content Specific: Science Teaching and Learning SIG Roundtable Session

Abstract

Recently, many international studies have underlined a worrying decline in students interest in science. To deal with this issue, innovative inquiry-based education methods – e.g. the INQUIRE project - have been promoted to increase students participation in science classroom. Nevertheless, evaluation of inquiry-based activities still remains rather undeveloped, highlighting a lack of effective program evaluation as well as a lack of confidence among professionals in their ability to use evaluation. To investigate this issue, we analyzed the INQUIRE project within the framework of Evaluation Capacity Building theory. The data collected provides an overall picture of the evaluation activities carried out by the project, offering valuable insights into the positive and critical aspects related to the development of a sound evaluation capacity.

Author

• Fabio Dovigo, Aarhus University