Opportunities and Challenges in Inquiry-Based Science Education

This chapter aims to show the educational value of inquiry-based science education, with a special focus on Latin America, highlighting some relevant projects carried out in different countries. It also analyzes the main problems and challenges faced by this approach at the international level. In response to some of them, a more holistic view of its use in science teaching is presented, considering, justifying, and exemplifying the importance of contexts when designing inquiry activities. Finally, some global considerations and future perspectives on inquiry-based science education are provided.