Exploring Inquiry Skills During Home Experiments about Science in the Online Instruction

Abstract

Inquiry is an essential skill in science learning which includes designing, conducting, and interpreting the results of scientific investigations. Inquiry skills are usually taught by applying instruction by doing science-based education. Experiments are essential in training students' inquiry skills in science learning. Online science learning is effectively used to teach theoretical or conceptual material and becomes a challenge when applied in education that provides practical experience in the laboratory by involving experiments methods with hands-on exercises. This study tried online science learning by integrating experimental activities using hands-on activities carried out by students in their respective homes. During science lessons, students choose a topic about science and conduct experiments at home. Students design experiments, collect data, analyze data, and formulate conclusions to construct scientific knowledge. The results showed that practical activities carried out at home in online science learning could help students develop their inquiry skills. Students can carry out scientific investigations by applying various inquiry skills to obtain valid scientific knowledge.