Using practical inquiry to improve third-grade secondary students' learning (Action research)

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore how practical inquiry enhances third-grade secondary students' learning in Hadith and Islamic culture. The researcher followed an action research approach that enables practitioners to examine and improve their practices. Two qualitative instruments were used to collect data: Observation and open-ended questions. The data were analyzed by open coding. Results showed that the use of practical inquiry improved student learning through four main aspects: promoting cooperative learning, developing thinking skills, developing problem-solving skills, and linking the lesson content to real life. This action research helped improve the researcher's teaching performance by developing the practical inquiry procedures to be appropriate for third-grade secondary students and the subject, and strengthened her belief that practical inquiry could be used in secondary education. The research made recommendations to support practical inquiry in secondary schools, including flexible organization of the school schedule to allow sufficient time to conduct inquiry, provision of Internet, and activation of blended learning in secondary schools.