Effective Integration of Technology in Inquiry Learning

Abstract

For education leaders (teachers, professors, curriculum designers, and administrators), there are well-documented benefits to using inquiry learning in a wide variety of grade levels, content levels, and contexts. Besides promoting deep learning and critical thinking, inquiry learning is readily adaptable to 21st century skills such as information and communication technologies literacy. However, the combination of sophisticated pedagogy and cutting-edge technologies can be overwhelming to education leaders when planning an inquiry learning curriculum. Faced with a wide variety of technology options, education leaders have little research-based guidance for choosing the ones that are best suited to an inquiry learning curriculum. This chapter reviews recent findings on the use of technology in inquiry learning and provides suggestions and guidelines for incorporating technology in inquiry learning in order to maximize the pedagogical affordances of technology.