Computer assisted inquiry based learning in undergraduate science education

Inquiry describes both a process that scientists use and an instructional methodology that can assist students' understanding of scientific concepts. Inquiry based learning (IBL) refers to the activities of students and how they develop understanding of scientific ideas and how scientists study the natural world (NRC, 1996). This thesis documents the teaching/learning methodology in a web-based Biology course for undergraduate Biology majors and compares it with the teaching/learning methodology in a traditionally taught Biology course. An analysis of the data showed that there was no significant difference between the performance of students in web-based science courses and those in traditionally taught courses.