Inquiry-based schools

Principals and teachers were required to resolve educational dilemmas, make decisions, and solve problems—both inside and outside the classroom—on a daily basis. These decisions could have significant consequences for the lives of students and staff, and were typically made based on extensive professional experience. Systematic, in-depth processes aimed at understanding the dilemmas and problems, as well as examining potential ways to address them, could also contribute to this decision-making.

School-based research—focusing on data collection and analysis alongside critical, reflective thinking—strengthened the culture of learning and development within educational organizations. Such research enabled principals and teachers to make informed decisions and solve problems systematically. However, this type of research process was complex, entailing various challenges and questions. As part of the activities of the Center for Pedagogical Research—an academia-field partnership—research and development communities were established among educational staff to drive these processes and to better understand their operation and contribution.

As part of the “Researching Schools” program, direct partnerships were established with several schools over the 2023–2025 period. Some partnerships lasted one year, while others spanned three years. At each school, representatives from the educational staff—teachers and principals—were appointed to lead a research and development process addressing specific pedagogical or organizational questions.

While the research and development process at each school was tailored to its specific needs, all processes shared common elements: the school identified a significant issue requiring a decision or development; a research question was formulated to align with the school’s needs, research capabilities, and available resources; data were collected and analyzed; and practical decisions regarding school management or instruction were made based on the research findings. All activities were carried out by the school teams, with guidance from staff at the Center for Pedagogical Research.