Does inquiry based learning improve critical thinking

Introduction

Inquiry-based learning (IBL) is an educational approach that emphasizes the student's role in the learning process, allowing them to follow their curiosity, ask questions, and explore topics in depth. This method is often contrasted with traditional teaching methods and is believed to enhance various cognitive skills, including critical thinking. This synthesis examines whether IBL improves critical thinking skills based on findings from multiple research studies.

Key Insights

Positive Impact on Critical Thinking Skills:
- Several studies have shown that IBL significantly enhances students' critical thinking skills across various educational contexts. These improvements are noted in areas such as interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference, explanation, and self-regulation .
Effectiveness Across Different Student Groups:
- IBL has been found to be particularly effective for students with initially low or very low critical thinking skills, showing significant improvements compared to traditional teaching methods .
Mixed Results in Specific Contexts:
- Some studies indicate that while IBL can improve critical thinking skills, the extent of its effectiveness may vary. For instance, one study found no significant difference in critical thinking dispositions between pre-service teachers in the experimental and control groups.
Enhanced Learning Outcomes with Guided Inquiry:
- The use of guided inquiry activities, where students are provided with structured guidance, has been shown to significantly improve critical thinking skills compared to non-inquiry-based methods .
Subject-Specific Improvements:
- IBL has been particularly effective in science and technology courses, where it has been shown to significantly enhance students' critical thinking abilities .

Conclusion

The collective findings from multiple studies suggest that inquiry-based learning generally improves critical thinking skills across various educational settings and student groups. While the effectiveness can vary depending on the context and implementation, the overall trend indicates that IBL is a beneficial approach for fostering critical thinking.

Does inquiry based learning improve critical thinking

Summary

Consensus Meter

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

The impact of the use of inquiry-based learning as a teaching methodology on the development of critical thinking.

Inquiry-based learning (IBL) enhances critical-thinking ability in nursing students, particularly for those in the low, medium, and high groups.

Effects of using inquiry-based learning on EFL students’ critical thinking skills

Inquiry-based argumentative writing instruction enhances EFL students' critical thinking skills, improving their interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference, explanation, and self-regulation abilities.

The impact of inquiry-based learning on the critical thinking dispositions of pre-service science teachers

Inquiry-based learning does not significantly improve pre-service science teachers' critical thinking dispositions.

Inquiry-Based Learning Implementation to Improve Critical Thinking of Prospective Teachers

Inquiry-based learning significantly improves critical thinking skills in prospective teachers, particularly for those with converging learning styles.

The Effect Of The Inquiry-Based Learning Approach On Student’s Critical Thinking Skills

The inquiry-based learning approach significantly improves students' critical thinking skills in science and technology courses compared to traditional lecturing methods.

Enhancing students’ critical thinking skills through inquiry-based learning model

Implementing the inquiry learning model positively influences students' ability to think critically.

Effectiveness of Inquiry Learning Models to Improve Students' Critical Thinking Ability

The guided inquiry learning model significantly improves students' critical thinking skills compared to non-inquiry learning models.

Implementation of an Inquiry Learning Model with Science Literacy to Improve Student Critical Thinking Skills

The developed inquiry learning model with science literacy effectively improves students' critical thinking skills in teaching Chemical kinetics, with achievement levels ranging from 72-97%.

Problem-based learning with iSpring assisted inquiry method on critical thinking skills

Problem-based learning with iSpring assisted inquiry method significantly improves students' critical thinking skills and positively impacts their understanding of material.

THE EFFECTIVENESS USING INQUIRY BASED NATURAL SCIENCE MODULE WITH AUTHENTIC ASSESSMENT TO IMPROVE THE CRITICAL THINKING AND INQUIRY SKILLS OF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Inquiry-based science modules with authentic assessment effectively improve students' inquiry skills and critical thinking in junior high school science education.

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