Inquiry-based Learning in Natural Sciences through the Application of the 5E Model to Develop Natural Inquiry Competence for Middle School Students in Vietnam

Abstract

Vietnam's new general education curriculum is transferring from content orientation to students' competence and quality development orientation. The 2018 general education program introduces notable changes from the previous 2006 curriculum. A major innovation is the incorporation of the Natural Science subject at the middle school level, which replaces the previously separate subjects of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. This integration underscores the importance of cultivating students' natural inquiry skills, making it a key area of research in the context of ongoing educational reforms in Vietnam. The Natural Science curriculum emphasizes the need to implement Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) to foster students' natural inquiry abilities. This study aims to apply the 5E model in teaching the topic "Pure Substances, Mixtures – Separating Substances from Mixtures" in Natural Science 6 to enhance students' natural inquiry competence, thereby contributing to the modernization of teaching methods and improving the quality of Natural Sciences education. The pedagogical experiment was carried out in three middle schools across the Northern and Central–Central Highlands regions of Vietnam, involving a total of 114 students. Data collected from teacher assessments and student self-assessments reveal a clear enhancement in natural inquiry competence among students in the experimental classes, highlighting the effectiveness of the 5E model in achieving educational goals.

https://doi.org/10.26803/MyRes.2024.11