Introducing students to authentic inquiry investigation using an artificial olfactory system

Abstract

The importance of engaging students in authentic inquiry tasks has been emphasized in recent discussions of science educational standards. Authentic inquiry tasks can provide students with legitimate views of the nature of scientific investigation and contemporary scientific practice. Computer-based laboratory environments are widely used in inquiry-based activities to enable students to experience the complexity of authentic experimentation. An artificial olfactory system was developed and used as an interactive computerized laboratory tool to support students’ inquiry into odor classification. Sixteen 12th grade students in Thailand participated in the study. The results showed that participating in experiments with the artificial olfactory system had a positive impact on the students’ scientific inquiry abilities and their perceptions of inquiry-based science.