What is the topic?

This webinar focuses on “open inquiry labs,” an approach that gives students full agency in all phases of a scientific investigation. This approach moves far beyond traditional “cookbook” exercises, allowing students to define the research question, refine and implement the research methods, and draw their own conclusions.

The core aim is to enhance student learning by making labs more effective at teaching critical thinking and developing scientific self-efficacy in empirical science. During the webinar, we will explore why and how the shift toward student-driven inquiry is vital for preparing students for genuinely doing research.

What will you gain?

You will benefit from the practical experience of the SssOIL group* (Supporting Students Scientific Open Inquiries in Labs). The SssOIL team, composed of teachers from diverse undergraduate lab courses, will share their insights on successfully implementing open inquiry labs, including identified requirements and best practices.

Since effective teaching innovation requires adapting, not just adopting, we will actively engage in translating these methods to your specific field/discipline. By the end of the webinar, you’ll be equipped to consider how to transition your current lab assignments into powerful, research-focused open inquiries.

What will the session look like?

This is a dynamic, interactive 60-minute webinar featuring both the teacher’s expertise and the student’s direct experience. The webinar is designed for active participation using for example live polls, Q&A and break-out rooms, where you’ll work with peers to start translating the methods directly to your own course, ensuring you leave with concrete, contextualized ideas for implementation.

* The SssOIL team includes teachers of diverse undergraduate lab courses who won a grant to collaborate in improving their open inquiry teaching methods and to publish open-access course materials and design guidelines to help other lab teachers to adopt open inquiry methods. Learn more about their work here.