Active learning, represented by inquiry-based science education (IBSE) strategies, is considered essential for students to develop skills and knowledge to prepare for the challenges of the 21st century world. The success of IBSE, and the resulting development of inquiry skills in particular, can be enhanced by various factors. This study is focused on the synergetic effect of the implementation of IBSE through well-designed inquiry activities across STEM-related disciplines, enhanced by digital technologies and formative assessment tools, delivered by teachers educated in this field. The corresponding research based on a quasi-experimental design evaluated the effect on the development of inquiry skills that were identified before and after a period of consistent implementation of IBSE, using a written test of inquiry skills as the main research instrument. The research findings on the sample of 2307 upper secondary school students confirmed a low initial level of inquiry skills, however a statistically significant improvement in students’ inquiry skills with medium size effect was identified. The detailed analysis shows the largest impact in the skill of determination of accuracy and statistically significant differences between genders without practical importance, however no difference was identified with regard to the number of inquiry activities undertaken.

Students are well aware of the effect of the deflection of sports balls when they have been given a spin. A volleyball, tennis, or table tennis ball served with topspin results in an additional downward force that makes the ball difficult to catch and return. In soccer, the effect of sidespin causes the ball to curve unexpectedly sideways, resulting in a so-called banana kick that can confuse the goalkeeper. These surprising effects attract students’ attention such that the motion of sports balls can be used to capture the interest of students towards the physics behind it. However, to study and analyze the motion of a real ball kicked in a playfield is not an easy task. Instead of the large-scale full-size sports ball motion, there can be designed and studied simpler experiments that can be carried out in the classroom. Moreover, digital technologies that are available at schools enable students to collect data from the experiment easily in a reasonable time. The mathematical model based on the analysis of forces acting on the ball flying in the air can be used to simulate the motion in order to understand the basic physical principles of the motion so that the best correspondence may be found.

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The current initiatives at European level urge more emphasis on the implementation of inquiry-based science education (IBSE). Although there are existing studies on the effect of IBSE on understanding science, fewer attempts have been made regarding the development of various inquiry skills. In this research, a model of consistent implementation of inquiry activities across the three subjects of mathematics, physics and informatics was developed and its efficacy with regard to selected inquiry skills development was examined. In order to evaluate the efficacy, a test assessing the level of inquiry skills development was designed. This test was taken by 300 high school students both before and after experimental teaching. In between students were exposed to coherent and intentional multidisciplinary inquiry-based learning within a period of approx. four months. The results showed a statistically significant increase on test scores that is gender independent, however the class specialization played a significant role. The results indicate that the designed model of coactive IBSE implementation is efficacious for inquiry skills development and therefore applicable in school practice. Key words: inquiry skills assessment, inquiry-based science education, inquiry skills, test of inquiry skills.

Bádateľsky orientované vzdelávanie (BOV) patrí v poslednom období k najčastejšie skloňovaným pojmom v súvislosti s inováciou prírodovedného vzdelávania. Cieľom BOV je okrem konceptuálneho porozumenia aj rozvoj žiackych zručností realizovať bádanie a vyhodnocovať jeho výsledky. Prezentovaný výskum je zameraný na diagnostikovanie aktuálnej úrovne rozvoja vybraných bádateľských zručností žiakov gymnázia. Vychádzajúc z dostupných testov bol na základe klasifikácie bádateľských zručností vytvorený test bádateľských zručností. Testové úlohy určené na posúdenie úrovne zručnosti plánovať postup experimentu (identifikovať premenné a ich vzťah), transformovať výsledky do grafu, určovať vzťahy medzi premennými, identifikovať možné zdroje chýb a obhajovať výsledky a argumentovať, sú vsadené do matematického, fyzikálneho alebo informatického kontextu. Test bol zodpovedaný vzorkou 751 žiakov 1. a 2. ročníka niekoľkých gymnázií na Slovensku. Kvantitatívna analýza výsledkov testovania ukázala nízku priemernú úspešnosť žiakov v celom teste (32,5 %) ako aj v jednotlivých testových úlohách pohybujúcu sa približne v rozmedzí 8–50 %. Zo štatistického testovania vyplynulo, že medzi výsledkami žiakov 1. a 2. ročníka nebol významný rozdiel, zatiaľ čo výsledky chlapcov boli lepšie ako výsledky dievčat. Podrobná kvalitatívna analýza odhalila mnohé nedostatky, ktoré sa najvýraznejšie prejavili v oblasti analýzy a interpretácie výsledkov a žiackych argumentačných zručností.