Scientific Enquiry

• "The ongoing process of discovery in science; the diverse ways in which scientists study the natural world and propose explanations based on evidence they gather"  
• (Answers, 2014)  
• There are eight essential factors in scientific methods

1. Define the questions
2. Observe 
3. Form an hypothesis 
4. Test the hypothesis by performing an experiment on the subject and collect the data
5. Examine the data 
6. Elucidate the data and draw conclusions 
7. Publish data
8. Retest

Inquiry based learning is a pedagogical method, which blossomed during the 1960's - where they rejected the traditional form of learning (Bruner, 1961). 

The Inquiry learning highlights constructivist ideas of learning therefore learning is best developed in group situations, where they can exchange ideas and encourage each other also promotes peer competition. 

In teaching and learning, inquiry based learning is most helpful for it covers a variety of methods including: research projects, case works and investigations. 

Specific learning process that individuals participate in inquiry learning are: 

• Creation of their own questions 
• Acquire evidence to support their question
• Explanatory of evidence
• Creation of links between the explanation and the knowledge from the investigation
• Fabricate arguments and premise for explanation

This is an another scaffolding technique produced by (Heather & Bell, 2008) they proposed four levels in inquiry learning:

Confirmation Inquiry

Individuals are produced with question and method and the results are known in advance, therefore the researchers verify the answers that's given.

Structured Inquiry

Individuals are provided with questions and method but the researchers must explain the results that's been carried out.

Guided Inquiry 

Individuals are only provided with the research question, they must design the method and assess the question and the outcomes of the results.

Open Inquiry

Individuals themselves create the questions, plan the experiment and explain their results.

Leading on from this, in an education setting scientific inquiry is acknowledged as an objective of learning and a teaching methodology. These types of learning are created to expand the students exploration, knowledge, widen the interpretation of new learning. Scientific inquiry is fruitful when the learners acknowledge the significance of their learning.