Adapting an inquiry-based approach for undergraduate chemistry laboratory courses: an exploratory study

The exploratory study presented here is regarding the implementation of an inquiry-based instructional module developed for undergraduate chemistry laboratory courses. The study aims at understanding the challenges in execution of such a module and suggest ways for its effective implementation. It is important to bring changes in the present conventional practices to develop students as independent investigators and for learning experiences that are inquiry-driven, discussion-based and flexible as recommended by the NEP 2020. Based on this study, we suggest that the transition to inquiry approaches should be gradual. Further, students need adequate scaffolding of the learning process to help them in such a transition.