Learning methodologies have been studied extensively for more than five decades. While traditional learning model was previously dominant method in the field of learning, the early 1970s saw a wide range of reforms in educational fields supported by new technologies that facilitate the change from a teacher to a student-centred model. However, these reforms are still limited regarding efficiency. This study constitutes a systematic and critical review of the two dominant learning models, traditional and inquiry-based learning. While, traditional learning is supposed to increase learners' outcomes and keeps them active during the learning process, it has been widely asserted that inquiry-based learning increases learners' knowledge and skills. This review is based on fortythree empirical studies reported in the literature between 2002 and 2017. It identified a number of important drawbacks to both traditional and inquiry-based learning in the previous works. This review had analysed and evaluated critically the advantages and disadvantages of both learning methods. A gap was found between the current learning methods and the expectations of our educational systems in developing learner's knowledge and skills. Thus, this review concludes that a new pedagogical design is necessary to emphasises the advantages and negates disadvantages of both learning models.

No abstract