inquiry skills

The article provides a theoretical and methodological rationale for the use of creative psychological and pedagogical technologies in teaching subject-specific methodologies of natural science disciplines in higher education. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to shift from the acquisition of reproductive knowledge to productive, inquiry-oriented, and professionally focused learning activities in the training of prospective teachers in natural science disciplines. Such activities enable students to generate ideas, formulate and test hypotheses, model natural processes, make methodologically grounded decisions, and create educational products. The aim of the article is to clarify the concept of creative psychological and pedagogical technologies, identify the features that determine their creative orientation, and substantiate the principles, conditions, and criteria for their selection and implementation in the professional training of prospective teachers of natural science disciplines. The study is theoretical and analytical in nature. The source base comprises regulatory documents, research articles, and methodological publications addressing the development of creativity, inquiry- and problem-based learning, teacher education in natural science disciplines, and the use of project-based, digital, and geoinformation tools. Analysis and synthesis, comparison, generalization, systematization, classification, pedagogical modeling, and methodological extrapolation were employed. Creative psychological and pedagogical technologies are understood as pedagogical technologies whose organization creates conditions for productive creative activity through openness to problems, variability of possible solutions, independent generation and verification of ideas, and the creation of a result that is new to the learner. Their implementation in natural science teacher education requires combining originality and variability with scientific validity, evidence-based reasoning, and verifiability. The methodological tools were systematized according to their functional purposes, distinguishing pedagogical technologies, methods, and types of activity, educational approaches, and digital tools. Psychological and pedagogical conditions and criteria for their selection were identified. The theoretical analysis provides grounds for considering problem- and inquiry-based learning, project-based learning, case-based learning, design thinking, modeling, open-ended tasks, geoinformation services, and virtual laboratories as promising tools for organizing creatively oriented learning activities of prospective teachers of natural science disciplines. Their appropriate integration may potentially contribute to the development of creative, critical, and systemic thinking, inquiry skills, and the ability to apply knowledge in non-standard educational and professional situations; however, these effects require further empirical verification. The findings may be used to develop educational programs and instructional materials for the professional training of prospective teachers in natural science disciplines.

This study examined the implementation and perceived effectiveness of Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) strategies in science among teachers and students in five public junior high schools in Panabo City, Davao del Norte. Anchored in Constructivist Learning Theory, Social Constructivism, Progressive Inquiry, and Cognitive Load Theory, it employed a quantitative descriptive-correlational design. Respondents comprised 31 Science teachers selected through total enumeration and 100 Grade 10 students selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using validated researcher-developed questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and independent samples t-tests. Teachers rated IBL implementation as Highly Implemented (M = 4.66) and its effectiveness as Highly Effective (M = 4.71), whereas students rated implementation as Implemented (M = 4.17) and effectiveness as Effective (M = 4.09). Significant positive relationships emerged between implementation and perceived effectiveness, with stronger associations in students’ assessments. Significant differences between teacher and student ratings indicated disparities in their classroom perceptions. The findings concerned student engagement, conceptual understanding, scientific inquiry skills, collaborative learning, and problem-solving abilities. The study proposed the INQUIRE+ Professional Development Program to strengthen Science teachers’ inquiry-based instruction through coaching, collaborative lesson study, reflective practice, and systematic monitoring and evaluation. It aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) by supporting improved Science instruction and continuing teacher development. Its contribution to educational and institutional sustainability lies in promoting sustained professional learning, school-based collaboration, and evidence-informed instructional improvement across participating schools and varied local classroom learning contexts. Further evaluation of the proposed program is needed to establish its effectiveness after implementation.

This review explores the role of science laboratories in strengthening science education within resource‑limited contexts, with particular attention to Timor‑Leste. Drawing on peer‑reviewed studies and policy documents published between 2019 and 2025, the synthesis highlights how laboratory access fosters students’ conceptual understanding and inquiry skills through hands‑on engagement. Yet, many schools continue to depend on low‑cost experiments due to infrastructural constraints, creating a persistent gap between curriculum aspirations and classroom realities. The analysis underscores the importance of expanding laboratory infrastructure, investing in teacher professional development, and adopting context‑appropriate experimental strategies to advance science learning in basic education settings.

این مرور به بررسی نقش آزمایشگاه‌های علوم در تقویت آموزش علوم در بسترهای دارای منابع محدود می‌پردازد و توجه ویژه‌ای به کشور تیمور شرقی دارد. با اتکا به مطالعات داوری‌شده و اسناد سیاستی منتشرشده بین سال‌های ۲۰۱۹ تا ۲۰۲۵، این سنتز نشان می‌دهد که دسترسی به آزمایشگاه موجب ارتقای درک مفهومی و مهارت‌های پژوهشی دانش‌آموزان از طریق مشارکت عملی می‌شود. با این حال، بسیاری از مدارس به دلیل محدودیت‌های زیرساختی همچنان به آزمایش‌های کم‌هزینه وابسته هستند که این امر موجب تداوم فاصله میان اهداف برنامه درسی و واقعیت‌های کلاس درس می‌شود. تحلیل حاضر بر اهمیت گسترش زیرساخت‌های آزمایشگاهی، سرمایه‌گذاری در توسعه حرفه‌ای معلمان و اتخاذ راهبردهای آزمایشگاهی متناسب با زمینه برای ارتقای یادگیری علوم در آموزش پایه تأکید می‌کند.