Inquire at Coimbra Botanic Garden: Products and Process of an IBSE Educative Project

INQUIRE is a pan-European project under the 7th Framework Programme proposing an innovative initiative for teacher training, implemented by a broad consortium of seventeen partners among botanical gardens, natural history museums and NGOs. The focus is on inquiry-based science education (IBSE) methodology reflecting the effectiveness of this method applied to the science teaching. The Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra participates in this project, developing a Pilot Inquire Course (PIC) untitled "Project INQUIRE: sustainability and biodiversity training" for teachers and educators. In this "Learning by Research" methodology knowledge is constructed through experimentation and discussing ideas with teachers, students and peers and by direct interaction with the scientific phenomenon. The understanding of scientific concepts was so promoted using educative resources inside and outside the classroom (formal and informal education) with 10 to 14 years old students. The course subject was focused on biodiversity loss and climate change and resulted in the construction of new teaching resources, tools and experiences, built and shared among peers that became more reflective practitioners and better educators for sustainability. In this paper the authors intend to detail the course undertaken focusing on the activities conducted and the materials developed and also on the results of the evaluation done.