Transforming Students´ Inquiry Skills with Computer-Based Simulations

The application of Web-based learning environment ldquoYoung Scientistrdquo (http://bio.edu.ee/noor) in developing the 6^th grade studentspsila inquiry skills (aged 10-12) was studied. The main objectives have been to evaluate the development of studentspsila inquiry skills and how the development of these skills depends on their pre-skills. 302 students all over Estonia solved three problems in the following topics: ldquoThe Production of Plantsrdquo, ldquoThe Fertilization of Plantsrdquo, and ldquoThe Biological Control of Plant-hazardous Insectsrdquo. According to the results of the pre- and post-test their skills of formulating problems, research questions, and hypotheses, planning and conducting investigations, analyzing data, and skills of making inferences developed statistically significantly. Spearman correlation demonstrated that the highest development occurred among the students with initial low level of inquiry skills. The only exception was found in the case of formulating research questions since more advanced pre-skills led to higher development.