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Sweet Briar College

About the project

What is the purpose of the Science and Math by Inquiry program?

To increase opportunities for Central Virginia’s school children to utilize inquiry-based, hands-on learning in science and math, enabling them to learn more about modern science and its methods and exciting them about scientific investigation.

Previous project offerings emphasized training teachers in inquiry techniques and assisting teachers with implementation of inquiry-based lessons in their classroom.

What is learning by inquiry?

Inquiry-based learning is student-focused and centers on questioning. In its most open form, students ask questions, make hypotheses, collect data and analyze it, think critically about their results, and make conclusions. By interacting with real scientific problems, students gain a deeper understanding of fundamental scientific and mathematical concepts; by solving problems on their own, students are engaged by the subject matter and gain confidence in their abilities to solve problems.

How are teachers trained to teach by inquiry?

Content-driven summer courses and Saturday academic year workshops are offered that focus on fundamental scientific and mathematical concepts and relate to Virginia SOLs for grades 3-8. Project instructors guide teachers through hands-on and inquiry-based activities, fostering a deeper understanding of science while modeling inquiry-based teaching methods.

We also offer two three-credit graduate courses in education. Teacher-participants in EDUC 656, "Inquiry Methods in Math and Science," attend workshops and class meetings, implement inquiry-based lessons in their classrooms, and submit reflective reports of these lessons. In the successive course, EDUC 657, "Inquiry Design and Methodology," teacher-participants conduct an action research project using inquiry methods of teaching and learning in their classroom.

Participation in courses and workshops is free and includes the opportunity to earn graduate and recertification credit.

What does the Instructional Support Specialist (ISS) do?

Our Instructional Support Specialist provides support to participating teachers implementing inquiry-based lessons in their classrooms throughout the school year. The ISS helps teachers plan activities, answers conceptual and practical questions, provides non-consumable supplies and equipment, trains teachers and students in equipment use, and works alongside teachers in their classrooms.

The ISS also works with workshop and course instructors and school administrators to ensure that the project offerings meet the needs of students, teachers, and school divisions. The ISS can create classes and workshops for groups of teachers, make available the resources at Sweet Briar College, including facilities, equipment, and 3000-plus acres of campus, and help teachers apply for grant money.

Which school districts are served by the project?

We serve ten school districts in Central Virginia: Amherst County, Appomattox County, Bedford County and City, Buckingham County, Campbell County, Charlotte County, Charlottesville City, Lynchburg City, Nelson County, and Prince Edward County. Find a list of schools and contact administrators in each of these districts here.