ABSTRACT
This chapter describes inquiry and learning in science and arts-based informal settings. Informal institutions, generally museums, galleries, zoos, and science centers, are designed to be interactive spaces that foster self-directed explorations and learning of different arts, exhibits, specimens, and materials on display. Observations, dialogues, and questioning approaches are generally used to facilitate inquiry-based learning in informal settings. In arts-based settings, the emphasis is on advancing visual literacy, and in science-based settings inquiry is used both as a pedagogical approach and as modeling scientific practice. In both kinds of settings, teacher learning and professional development is used to help teachers understand the process of inquiry and facilitate inquiry-based learning with students both in the classroom and in informal institutions. The challenge and the value of inquiry-based learning in informal settings is that conversations and trajectories can go in unexpected ways. It is important to continue to research inquiry and learning in informal settings, for example studying the kinds of questions and prompts that support productive conversation, the role of digital technologies in supporting learning, and, importantly, considering the sociocultural aspects of inquiry. Inquiry in informal settings supports diverse ways of accessing science and art.
