Inquiry-based projects: its impact on the scientific competence of students in Uruguay

Abstract

Didactic sequences were elaborated through Inquiry Projects from a dual approach, since epistemological and didactic aspects were integrated, with the aim of analyzing the influence of these in the development of scientific competence and to combine criteria when they are designed within the model of learning by inquiry.

 The action research was carried out in a lyceum with an unfavorable sociocultural context. Three teachers participated, with two groups in charge each. The teachers selected the best group and the one with the greatest difficulties at the beginning of the school year, from the groups that were assigned by the institution, in order to cover as much diversity as possible. 115 students participated.

 The selection of teachers was made by casual sampling to belong to the center in the year 2017. Within the group of teachers of the lyceum, the sample was made based on other criteria: effective teachers, with continuity in that school year, who had at least two groups of the same grade and take up this challenge. Two techniques were triangulated: analysis of documents of the rubrics applied to the diagnostic proposal and to the posters, as well as observation of classes and observation during the defense of the posters.

 An advance was seen in the development of the dimensions of scientific competence in the results achieved by the students 4th year, it arises as unpublished data that the initial differences detected by the diagnostic proposal in groups of the same degree vanished.