To gain a better idea of how inquiry questions are developed, listen to a member of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) CLIP at Bakersfield College tell how they decided on their inquiry questions.

This CLIP wanted to find out whether peer study groups improved student learning. They had a special interest in the students in the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) project. The process of deciding on their questions helped this CLIP discover how best to focus their inquiry.

While choosing their inquiry questions, they thought about:

• study needs of STEM and MESA students
• how to provide an environment to support those needs
• student achievement with and without study groups
• how to measure success

Reflect on what made them realize their questions needed to be different and why they ended up with the specific ones they chose.