School Libraries Worldwide
Volume 14, Number 1, January 2008,

Grade 4 Students' Development of Research Skills Through Inquiry-Based Learning Projects

The full article is available as a PDF file.

Sam Chu, University of Hong Kong
Ken Chow, Canossa Primary School, Shek-kam Tse, University of Hong Kong, Carol Collier Kuhlthau, Rutgers University

Researchers like Harada, Yoshina, Donham, Bishop, Kuhlthau, and Oberg have pointed out the benefits for students to move from rote to inquiry learning. However, "the norm in many classrooms remains teaching practice that results in rote learning and regurgitated facts." In recent years, the Hong Kong government's Education Bureau has put inquiry-based learning as the first emphasis under the new General Studies curriculum for primary schools with the objective of "creating more learning space by removing obsolete content, allowing more time for inquiry-based learning." Many schools are now attempting to incorporate this mode of learning into their curriculum. This study reports on two phases of IBL projects undertaken by 141 grade 4 students, each phase lasting for two to three months. The projects were led by general studies teachers and heavily supported by Chinese-language teachers, the information technology teacher, and the school librarian. Through analyzing the lesson plans, in-class exercises, homework assignments, written reports, presentations by students, and data collected through surveys and interviews, this article focuses specifically on the role of the general studies teachers in guiding students through the inquiry process. It also analyzes the students' development of knowledge and research skills, as well as students' and parents' perceptions of the projects.

Introduction

Harada and Yoshina (2004a, 2004b), as well as Donham, Bishop, Kuhlthau, and Oberg (2001) have shown the benefits of inquiry-based learning (IBL) for students, as compared with rote learning. However, "the norm in many classrooms remains teaching practice that results in rote learning and regurgitated facts" (Harada & Yoshina, 2004b, p. 22). Harada and Yoshina might mainly be describing the situation in the United States, but this is in fact a worldwide problem. As in many other parts of the world, rote learning is still the dominant way of teaching and learning in Hong Kong primary schools (the equivalent of elementary schools in North America, grades 1-6). In attempting to change this situation, the Education Bureau (2002) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region introduced IBL into the general studies curriculum as a way to help students develop basic inquiry, investigative, and problem- solving skills.

This study reports two phases of IBL projects that were led by general studies teachers and heavily supported by the Chinese-language teachers, information technology (IT) teacher, and the school librarian. Each phase had 141 grade 4 students working on a research project lasting for two to three months. Through students' self-directed learning and support from the various teachers, school librarian, and parents, students' research skills gradually developed.

Disclaimer
The views expressed in articles are those of the author(s) concerned and do not necessarily represent the views of the International Association of School Librarianship (IASL) Inc.

Last updated 7 July 2008 (KSB)