Preparing Students To Benefit from Inquiry-Based Activities in the Chemistry Laboratory: Guidelines and Suggestions

Abstract

In this paper, we suggest strategies for instructors to use to prepare students for inquiry-based activities. Instructors should ensure that appropriate content material has been covered in lecture prior to implementing inquiry-based activities in the laboratory, and that support is provided to students as they transition from traditional to inquiry-based activities. Other suggestions include modifying teaching strategies in the laboratory, fostering student independence, and communicating reasonable expectations to the students.