OER-AST Research Webinar: Inquiry-Based Learning in Singapore Classrooms

The second OER-AST Research Webinar, jointly organised by the Academy of Singapore Teachers and the Office of Education Research (OER), NIE, was held on 14 July 2021 on the topic “Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) in Singapore Classrooms”. The webinar shared challenges with enacting IBL in Singapore classrooms and offered research-based findings on pedagogies and classroom practices to promote effective implementation on IBL.

Assoc Prof Mark Baildon, from OER and NIE’s Humanities & Social Studies Education (HSSE) Academic Group, delivered the first keynote address titled “Research Findings on Inquiry in Classrooms: Implications for Teaching and Learning”. In Assoc Prof Baildon’s keynote, he discussed findings from studies in Singapore (as well as international literature) that highlight effective inquiry-based pedagogies and teacher beliefs to support IBL. The second keynote was given by Dr Dennis Kwek, Centre Director of the Centre for Research in Pedagogy and Practice (CRPP) and OER Assoc Dean (Strategic Engagement). Dr Kwek spoke on “Core 3 Research Programme Findings on Inquiry-based Teaching and Learning and Implications for Classroom Practice”, based on findings on IBL from CRPP’s CORE Research Programme which seeks to provide an empirical evidence base of pedagogical practices in primary and secondary classrooms across a range of subjects.

After the keynotes, participants were free to join any of the five breakout sessions below:

1. “Inquiry and Primary Science Learning Experiences: Insights and Potential” by Assoc Prof Tan Aik Ling, Deputy Head (Teaching & Curriculum Matters) at NIE’s Natural Sciences and Science Education (NSSE) Academic Group, based on her project “Partnership for Change Towards Science as Inquiry in Elementary Science Classrooms: Collective Responsibility of Teachers and Students”.
2. “Hands-on and Minds-on Learning of Science using a Microbial Fuel Cell” by Assoc Prof Lee Yew Jin, NSSE, and Dr Timothy Tan, NSSE Lecturer, based on their project of the same name.
3. “Inquiry-Based Learning in Geographical and Environmental Education: The Example of Water Quality Studies in the Singapore Context” by Dr Tricia Seow, HSSE Senior Lecturer, based on her project “Understanding Teachers' Knowledge and Practice of Lower Secondary Geographical Investigations”.
4. “Computer-Supported Collaborative Argumentation in Singapore Classrooms” by Assoc Prof Chen Wenli, Head of NIE’s Learning Sciences and Assessment Academic Group, based on her project “Computer-Supported Collaborative Argumentation in Social Studies and History Classrooms”.
5. “Fulfilling Inquiry-Based Learning in Singapore Mathematics Classrooms” by Assoc Prof Lee Ngan Hoe, from NIE’s Mathematics and Mathematics Education Academic Group, based on his projects on “The effect of problem solving first vs. explicit instruction first on mathematics learning” and “Constructivist Learning Design for Singapore Secondary Mathematics Curriculum”.

The webinar concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Assoc Prof Baildon, and saw over 300 participants.