How Does the 5E Instructional Model Promote Active, Collaborative, Inquiry-Based Learning? Because learning does not occur by way of passive absorption, the lessons in this module promote active learning. Students are involved in more than listening and reading. They are developing skills, analyzing and evaluating evidence, experiencing and discussing, and talking to their peers about their own understanding. Students work collaboratively with others to solve problems and plan investigations. Many students find that they learn better when they work with others in a collaborative environment than when they work alone in a competitive environment. When active, collaborative learning is directed toward scientific inquiry, students succeed in making their own discoveries. They ask questions, observe, analyze, explain, draw conclusions, and ask new questions. These inquiry-based experiences include both those that involve students in direct experimentation and those in which students develop explanations through critical and logical thinking.

What the Teacher Does

What the Students Do

The NSES recognizes inquiry as both a learning goal and a teaching method.

Research demonstrates that experts tend to approach problem solving by applying their knowledge of major concepts, or “big ideas.” Novices tend to seek simple answers that are consistent with their everyday expectations about how the world works. Sc

Understanding science is more than knowing facts.

Students build new knowledge and understanding based on what they already know and believe.

one specific definition of resilience, which is optimism—appraising situations without distorting them, thinking about changes that are possible to make in your life.

only half of the questions are about responding resiliently to situations of failure and adversity or being a hard worker.

And you stick with those interests and goals over the long term.