{"id":2617,"date":"2025-04-11T15:59:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-11T15:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/?p=2617"},"modified":"2026-09-21T20:37:36","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T20:37:36","slug":"dont-start-with-inquiry-based-learning-britannica-science-flips-the-script-with-explicit-instruction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/dont-start-with-inquiry-based-learning-britannica-science-flips-the-script-with-explicit-instruction\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cDon\u2019t Start with Inquiry-Based Learning\u201d: Britannica Science Flips the Script with Explicit Instruction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-center has-primary-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6f8fc05b8d9efe340f01745d33630fb6\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0;min-height:30vh;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-100 has-background-dim has-background-gradient\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(170deg,rgb(0,163,232) 0%,rgba(255,255,255,0.88) 54%,rgba(255,255,255,0) 100%)\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-cover-is-layout-7ddab028 wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n    <div\n        class=\"floating-graphics-block relative wp-block-acf-floating-graphics\">\n    \n        <!-- Background Graphic -->\n                                    <!-- Thistle with position options -->\n                <img decoding=\"async\"\n                    src=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/themes\/britannica-education\/assets\/img\/backgrounds\/thistle.svg\"\n                    alt=\"Thistle background graphic\"\n                    class=\"absolute inset-0 pointer-events-none z-10 w-full opacity-50 !h-full object-contain object-right\" \/>\n                    \n        <!-- Floating Graphic -->\n        \n        <!-- Content Area -->\n        <div class=\"relative z-20\">\n            \n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n  <nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" id=\"breadcrumbs-6ab35f214b7b7\" class=\"py-2 breadcrumbs-block lg:py-3\">\n    <ol class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-1 text-xs font-medium text-white lg:space-x-2 lg:text-sm breadcrumbs__text\">\n              <li class=\"flex items-center\">\n                      <a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/\" class=\"truncate focus:outline-none focus:underline hover:underline\">\n              Home            <\/a>\n                          <svg width=\"4\" height=\"7\" viewBox=\"0 0 4 7\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"w-2.5 h-2 lg:w-3.5 lg:h-3 pl-1 lg:pl-2 flex-shrink-0 breadcrumbs__arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                <g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_188_2439)\">\n                  <path d=\"M3.88251 3.78522C4.03876 3.62746 4.03876 3.37127 3.88251 3.21352L1.48251 0.790444C1.32626 0.632692 1.07251 0.632692 0.91626 0.790444C0.76001 0.948197 0.76001 1.20439 0.91626 1.36214L3.03376 3.5L0.91751 5.63786C0.76126 5.79561 0.76126 6.0518 0.91751 6.20956C1.07376 6.36731 1.32751 6.36731 1.48376 6.20956L3.88376 3.78648L3.88251 3.78522Z\" \/>\n                <\/g>\n                <defs>\n                  <clipPath id=\"clip0_188_2439\">\n                    <rect width=\"4\" height=\"6.46154\" transform=\"matrix(1 0 0 -1 0 6.73077)\" \/>\n                  <\/clipPath>\n                <\/defs>\n              <\/svg>\n                              <\/li>\n              <li class=\"flex items-center\">\n                      <a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/\" class=\"truncate focus:outline-none focus:underline hover:underline\">\n              Blog            <\/a>\n                          <svg width=\"4\" height=\"7\" viewBox=\"0 0 4 7\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"w-2.5 h-2 lg:w-3.5 lg:h-3 pl-1 lg:pl-2 flex-shrink-0 breadcrumbs__arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                <g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_188_2439)\">\n                  <path d=\"M3.88251 3.78522C4.03876 3.62746 4.03876 3.37127 3.88251 3.21352L1.48251 0.790444C1.32626 0.632692 1.07251 0.632692 0.91626 0.790444C0.76001 0.948197 0.76001 1.20439 0.91626 1.36214L3.03376 3.5L0.91751 5.63786C0.76126 5.79561 0.76126 6.0518 0.91751 6.20956C1.07376 6.36731 1.32751 6.36731 1.48376 6.20956L3.88376 3.78648L3.88251 3.78522Z\" \/>\n                <\/g>\n                <defs>\n                  <clipPath id=\"clip0_188_2439\">\n                    <rect width=\"4\" height=\"6.46154\" transform=\"matrix(1 0 0 -1 0 6.73077)\" \/>\n                  <\/clipPath>\n                <\/defs>\n              <\/svg>\n                              <\/li>\n              <li class=\"flex items-center\">\n                      <span class=\"font-bold truncate max-w-[120px] lg:max-w-none\" aria-current=\"page\">\n              <span class=\"lg:hidden\">\u201cDon\u2019t Start&hellip;<\/span>\n              <span class=\"hidden lg:inline\">\u201cDon\u2019t Start with Inquiry-Based Learning\u201d: Britannica Science Flips the Script with Explicit Instruction<\/span>\n            <\/span>\n                  <\/li>\n          <\/ol>\n  <\/nav>\n\n  <style>\n    \/* Breadcrumbs Block Styles *\/\n    #breadcrumbs-6ab35f214b7b7 a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)) {\n      color: white !important;\n      text-decoration: none !important;\n    }\n\n    #breadcrumbs-6ab35f214b7b7 a:hover {\n      text-decoration: underline !important;\n    }\n\n    #breadcrumbs-6ab35f214b7b7 a:focus {\n      text-decoration: underline !important;\n      outline: none;\n    }\n\n    \/* SVG arrow color *\/\n    #breadcrumbs-6ab35f214b7b7 .breadcrumbs__arrow {\n      fill: white !important;\n    }\n\n    \/* Ensure all text within breadcrumbs is white *\/\n    #breadcrumbs-6ab35f214b7b7  {\n      color: white !important;\n    }\n  <\/style>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-dba64f9c wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-bottom is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-column-is-layout-4794446a wp-block-column-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-left:0;flex-basis:22%\"><figure style=\"padding-bottom:0;padding-right:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);aspect-ratio:4\/3\" class=\"max-width wp-block-post-featured-image block-visibility-hide-small-screen\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-explicit-instruction-stem-hero.png\" class=\"has-border-color wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"border-color:#e7f0f3;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px;border-width:4px;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;box-shadow:var(--wp--preset--shadow--deep);\" srcset=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-explicit-instruction-stem-hero.png 600w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-explicit-instruction-stem-hero-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-bottom is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-column-is-layout-ab938884 wp-block-column-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-right:0;padding-left:0;flex-basis:60%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-09fd2093 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\"><div style=\"border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\" class=\"taxonomy-category force-no-underline wp-block-post-terms has-base-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/category\/stem\/\" rel=\"tag\">STEM<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<h1 style=\"line-height:1.25;border-style:none;border-width:0px;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0;padding-right:0\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-title\">\u201cDon\u2019t Start with Inquiry-Based Learning\u201d: Britannica Science Flips the Script with Explicit Instruction<\/h1>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-14d7fe8f wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/BE_Thistle-Variation-1.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-708\" style=\"object-fit:contain;width:35px;height:35px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-date has-medium-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2025-04-11T15:59:00+00:00\">April 11, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n        <\/div>\n\n        <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fa1d8b1e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-3aa1daa7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-right:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-stretch is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-column-is-layout-5dc111c9 wp-block-column-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;flex-basis:22%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group sticky-side-menu has-white-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-50b29bbe wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-1aeb394e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<p class=\"kicker wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:0;margin-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">share<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group max-w-sm m-auto is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-00420e6c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"http:\/\/facebook.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/britannica-education\/assets\/img\/be-facebook-icon.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:contain;width:30px\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/britannica_edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/britannica-education\/assets\/img\/be-pinterest-icon.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover;width:30px\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/britannica-education\/assets\/img\/be-linkedin-icon.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover;width:30px\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-right:0;padding-left:0;flex-basis:60%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group blog-body-content is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>Curiosity in science matters, but without explicit instruction to lay the groundwork, inquiry can leave students guessing.<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SScience education should ignite curiosity, foster critical thinking, and equip students with the ability to explore and experiment. However, current classroom practices often jump straight into inquiry-based learning (IBL) and project-based learning (PBL) without providing students with the essential foundation they need to engage meaningfully. This approach, while engaging, can leave students feeling lost, struggling to make sense of their observations, and ultimately limiting their ability to apply scientific concepts effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Research in neuroscience and cognitive science supports a different approach \u2014 one that prioritises\u00a0<strong>explicit instruction<\/strong>\u00a0before exploration.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/solutions\/britannica-expedition-learn\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1311\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Britannica Science \u2013 Expedition: Learn!<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is designed to bridge this gap, offering structured, scaffolded lessons that help students build foundational knowledge before they engage in practical investigations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-0b9f95d2d9f9935e4f9034a7d5ac22d4\"><br><strong><strong><strong>The Science of Learning: Why Knowledge Comes Before Exploration<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students learn best when they first develop a strong knowledge base and then apply that knowledge in an exploratory setting. This is not a matter of opinion \u2014 it is a principle backed by cognitive science and neuroscience research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A report by the Australian Education Research Organization (AERO) states that \u201clearning is a change in long-term memory\u201d, emphasising that new concepts must be securely stored in memory before they can be effectively applied (<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.edresearch.edu.au\/sites\/default\/files\/2023-11\/how-students-learn-best-aa_0.pdf\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AERO, 2023<\/a>). This aligns with decades of research showing that students who receive explicit instruction before engaging in discovery-based tasks perform significantly better than those who attempt to learn purely through exploration (<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1207\/s15326985ep4102_1\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kirschner, Sweller, &amp; Clark, 2006<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By building a strong foundational understanding first, students are better equipped to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-custom-css wp-custom-css-982307f8\">\n<li>1\ufe0f\u20e3\u00a0<strong>Engage in meaningful inquiry,<\/strong>\u00a0rather than just following procedures in an experiment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2\ufe0f\u20e3\u00a0<strong>Retrieve and apply knowledge more effectively<\/strong>\u00a0in real-world settings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>3\ufe0f\u20e3\u00a0<strong>Extend their learning,<\/strong>\u00a0making deeper connections between new and prior knowledge.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This approach does not eliminate hands-on learning but rather enhances it by ensuring students have the cognitive tools they need before engaging in independent exploration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-e61a9a6b4247bee161fba4f2061d25ec\"><br><strong><strong><strong><strong>Explicit Instruction: The Essential First Step in Science Learning<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the biggest misconceptions in education is that explicit instruction stifles curiosity. In reality, it does the opposite \u2014 it provides students with the tools they need to explore concepts with greater depth, confidence, and independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Explicit instruction is a structured, step-by-step teaching approach where:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-custom-css wp-custom-css-87785d84\">\n<li>\u2705\u00a0<strong>New concepts are explicitly explained<\/strong>\u00a0with clear explanations and guided practice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2705\u00a0<strong>Students gradually take on more responsibility<\/strong>\u00a0as they gain confidence and understanding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2705\u00a0<strong>Key ideas are reinforced through retrieval practice,<\/strong>\u00a0strengthening long-term retention.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A study published in the journal Neuroscience &amp; Biobehavioral Reviews highlights that explicit instruction improves cognitive engagement by reducing cognitive overload and directing students\u2019 attention to essential information (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0149763424002069\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sweller et al., 2024<\/a>). This is particularly critical in primary science education, where many teachers lack specialised science backgrounds and need structured resources to support effective teaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c8c23dd2a9779530bb024b0f7fcc5094\"><br><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>How Britannica Science \u2013 Expedition: Learn! Supports Explicit Instruction<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-032fd324 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"660\" src=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-expeditionlearn.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2618\" srcset=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-expeditionlearn.png 1000w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-expeditionlearn-300x198.png 300w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-expeditionlearn-768x507.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/solutions\/britannica-expedition-learn\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1311\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Britannica Science \u2013 Expedition: Learn!<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is designed to follow the principles of explicit instruction, ensuring that students:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-custom-css wp-custom-css-a14ac37e\">\n<li>\u2705\u00a0<strong>Acquire essential background knowledge<\/strong>\u00a0before engaging in hands-on activities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2705\u00a0<strong>Progress through scaffolded lessons,<\/strong>\u00a0building understanding step by step.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2705\u00a0<strong>Strengthen learning through retrieval practice,<\/strong>\u00a0reinforcing key concepts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With full, structured lesson modules, Britannica Science provides:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-custom-css wp-custom-css-0a1134c7\">\n<li>\ud83d\udca1\u00a0<strong>Step-by-step explanations of key science concepts,<\/strong>\u00a0ensuring students build knowledge before exploring.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83d\udcbb\u00a0<strong>Multimodal content like videos, diagrams, and interactive activities<\/strong>\u00a0to enhance understanding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83e\uddec\u00a0<strong>Self-guided lessons<\/strong>\u00a0that students can complete independently, whether at home or in class rotations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83e\uddea\u00a0<strong>Seamless integration with practical experiments,<\/strong>\u00a0allowing students to apply knowledge in a meaningful way.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/elearn.eb.com\/expedition-learn\/lesson-overview\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By incorporating Britannica Science before any practical lesson, students enter hands-on learning experiences with confidence, equipped with the knowledge they need to analyse, question, and explore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-cbbb65a9149596243b4b7db6b63c6c91\"><br><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>The Neuroscience of Retrieval Practice: Strengthening Learning for Long-Term Success<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Building foundational knowledge is only the first step. To ensure students retain what they learn, educators must incorporate retrieval practice \u2014 the act of recalling information multiple times over spaced intervals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So why does retrieval matter?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each time a student retrieves a concept, they strengthen the neural pathways associated with it, making future recall easier. In addition, spaced repetition improves retention, ensuring knowledge is stored in long-term memory. Finally, applying retrieved knowledge in new contexts deepens understanding, preparing students for higher-order thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Britannica Science supports retrieval practice by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-custom-css wp-custom-css-a158fba0\">\n<li>\u2705 Embedding quizzes and\u00a0<strong>knowledge checks<\/strong>\u00a0throughout lessons.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2705 Providing\u00a0<strong>clear explanations<\/strong>\u00a0that students can revisit over time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2705 Encouraging students to\u00a0<strong>apply retrieved concepts in hands-on experiments,<\/strong>\u00a0reinforcing long-term learning.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-89fa8f6ed398f1ee2dc16abe7f354550\"><br><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>The Pitfall of Jumping Straight into Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) and Project-Based Learning (PBL)<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While inquiry-based and project-based learning are valuable tools, they should not be the starting point of instruction. Without explicit instruction and retrieval practice beforehand, these methods can lead to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u274c\u00a0<strong>Students feeling lost,<\/strong>\u00a0unsure of what they\u2019re trying to achieve in an experiment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u274c\u00a0<strong>Cognitive overload,<\/strong>\u00a0making it difficult to retain new information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u274c\u00a0<strong>Missed opportunities for deeper learning,<\/strong>\u00a0as students focus on procedural steps rather than scientific concepts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When IBL and PBL are preceded by explicit instruction, they become highly effective because students have the background knowledge to think critically, ask meaningful questions, and extend their learning.<br>This is why Britannica Science should be used BEFORE any hands-on investigation \u2014 so students can approach experiments with the right cognitive tools to fully engage with the learning process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b4496f780d1a4d916e1a72910c2184b7\"><br><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Building a Smarter Approach to Science Education<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Science education is not just about experimenting \u2014 it\u2019s about understanding. To truly decode science learning, we must ensure that students build foundational knowledge through explicit instruction before they engage in hands-on exploration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/solutions\/britannica-expedition-learn\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1311\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Britannica Science \u2013 Expedition: Learn!<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0offers plug-and-play, research-backed lesson modules that help students learn before they explore, boost teacher confidence and reduce prep time with structured, high-quality resources, and builds a strong foundation upon which every learner can access a quality science education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By prioritising explicit instruction, retrieval practice, and scaffolded learning, we can transform how students engage with science \u2014 equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to become the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"129\" height=\"68\" src=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/BE_Thistle-Variation-1.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-831\" style=\"width:100px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light wp-duotone-unset-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-562 size-large\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/be-word-cloud-background-1024x585.png\" style=\"object-position:49% 0%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"49% 0%\"\/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-10 has-background-dim wp-block-cover__gradient-background has-background-gradient\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(180deg,rgb(255,255,255) 0%,rgba(255,255,255,0.82) 100%)\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-cover-is-layout-fa1d8b1e wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-primary-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-0d443bc241c90315db038545c0180bd9\">Recent Blog <em>Posts<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel custom-post-type-post has-slides-gap-none is-carousel has-arrows-none has-dots-outside\">\n            <div data-slider-option=\"{&quot;sliderSlidesToShowDesktop&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;getwid_slidesToShowLaptop&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;getwid_slidesToShowTablet&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;getwid_slidesToShowMobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;getwid_autoplay_speed&quot;:6000,&quot;getwid_animation_speed&quot;:800,&quot;getwid_slidesToScroll&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;getwid_autoplay&quot;:false,&quot;getwid_pause_on_hover&quot;:false,&quot;getwid_infinite&quot;:false,&quot;getwid_center_mode&quot;:false,&quot;getwid_arrows&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;getwid_dots&quot;:&quot;outside&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__wrapper\">\n                \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post\">\n            <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/gamify-britannica-school\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"481\" height=\"412\" src=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/08\/be-blog-gamify-britanncia-school.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/08\/be-blog-gamify-britanncia-school.jpg 481w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/08\/be-blog-gamify-britanncia-school-300x257.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 481px) 100vw, 481px\" \/><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-content-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-header\">\n            <h3 class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/gamify-britannica-school\/\">6 Easy Ways to Gamify Britannica School<\/a><\/h3>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-excerpt\"><p>With Britannica School\u2019s built-in tools, you already have everything you need to turn research into an adventure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post\">\n            <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/from-ancient-egypt-to-taylor-swift-what-students-explored-in-2025\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"870\" src=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-2025-aus-top-topics.png\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-2025-aus-top-topics.png 1500w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-2025-aus-top-topics-300x174.png 300w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-2025-aus-top-topics-1024x594.png 1024w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-2025-aus-top-topics-768x445.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-content-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-header\">\n            <h3 class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/from-ancient-egypt-to-taylor-swift-what-students-explored-in-2025\/\">From Ancient Egypt to Taylor Swift: What Students Explored in 2025<\/a><\/h3>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-excerpt\"><p>Britannica School\u2019s most viewed articles offer a peek into what captured the curiosity of students, teachers, and library-goers in 2025. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post\">\n            <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/time-saving-tips-to-get-you-through-exam-time\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-nathan-cima-Qw6wa96IvvQ-unsplash-scaled-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-nathan-cima-Qw6wa96IvvQ-unsplash-scaled-1.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-nathan-cima-Qw6wa96IvvQ-unsplash-scaled-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-nathan-cima-Qw6wa96IvvQ-unsplash-scaled-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-nathan-cima-Qw6wa96IvvQ-unsplash-scaled-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-nathan-cima-Qw6wa96IvvQ-unsplash-scaled-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-nathan-cima-Qw6wa96IvvQ-unsplash-scaled-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-content-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-header\">\n            <h3 class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/time-saving-tips-to-get-you-through-exam-time\/\">Time-Saving Tips to Get You Through Exam Time<\/a><\/h3>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-excerpt\"><p>As exam time rolls around, the pressure ramps up for everyone. Discover some practical ways to make the most of your resource this term.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post\">\n            <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/why-scientific-literacy-is-the-missing-key-to-student-confidence-comprehension-communication\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-stem-blog-hero.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-stem-blog-hero.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-stem-blog-hero-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-stem-blog-hero-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-stem-blog-hero-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-stem-blog-hero-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/be-aus-stem-blog-hero-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-content-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-header\">\n            <h3 class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/why-scientific-literacy-is-the-missing-key-to-student-confidence-comprehension-communication\/\">Why Scientific Literacy is the Missing Key to Student Confidence, Comprehension &#038; Communication<\/a><\/h3>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-excerpt\"><p>Scientific literacy goes beyond knowing facts or memorising vocabulary. At its core, it\u2019s about understanding how science works.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post\">\n            <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/a-future-with-dinosaurs-hands-on-challenges-for-k-8\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/future-of-dinosaurs-cover.png\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/future-of-dinosaurs-cover.png 750w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/future-of-dinosaurs-cover-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-content-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-header\">\n            <h3 class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/a-future-with-dinosaurs-hands-on-challenges-for-k-8\/\">A Future with Dinosaurs? Hands-on Challenges for K-8<\/a><\/h3>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-excerpt\"><p>These Australian curriculum-aligned classroom activities invite students to explore what might happen if dinosaurs walked the Earth again<\/p>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post\">\n            <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/making-waves-ocean-conservation-resources-for-schools\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/ocean-conservation-resources-cover.png\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/ocean-conservation-resources-cover.png 750w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/ocean-conservation-resources-cover-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-content-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-header\">\n            <h3 class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/making-waves-ocean-conservation-resources-for-schools\/\">Making Waves: Ocean Conservation Resources for Schools<\/a><\/h3>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-excerpt\"><p>Britannica School&#8217;s Ocean Conservation resources include engaging diagrams, charts, and other structured visuals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post\">\n            <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/4-practical-tips-for-implementing-21st-century-skills-in-elt\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/elt-blog-hero-2.png\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/elt-blog-hero-2.png 750w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/elt-blog-hero-2-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-content-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-header\">\n            <h3 class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/4-practical-tips-for-implementing-21st-century-skills-in-elt\/\">4 Practical Tips for Implementing 21st Century Skills in ELT<\/a><\/h3>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-excerpt\"><p>Alison Davis shares powerful strategies for embedding real-world skills into English Language Teaching (ELT)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post\">\n            <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/introducing-ask-britannica\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/ask-britannica-hero.png\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/ask-britannica-hero.png 900w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/ask-britannica-hero-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/ask-britannica-hero-768x512.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-content-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-header\">\n            <h3 class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/introducing-ask-britannica\/\">ASK Britannica: Supporting Curiosity with AI-powered Search<\/a><\/h3>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-excerpt\"><p>ASK Britannica makes it simple to ask questions, find answers and explanations, and explore Britannica\u2019s vast knowledge base.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post\">\n            <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/the-science-of-confidence-how-knowledge-empowers-learners\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/science-of-confidence-hero.png\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/science-of-confidence-hero.png 750w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/science-of-confidence-hero-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-content-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-header\">\n            <h3 class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/the-science-of-confidence-how-knowledge-empowers-learners\/\">The Science of Confidence: How Knowledge Empowers Learners<\/a><\/h3>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-excerpt\"><p>By understanding the science of confidence and using trusted resources like Britannica, educators can build confident learners <\/p>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post\">\n            <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/updates-to-high-school-level-britannica-school-202502\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1250\" height=\"825\" src=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/britannica-school-high-hero.png\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/britannica-school-high-hero.png 1250w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/britannica-school-high-hero-300x198.png 300w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/britannica-school-high-hero-1024x676.png 1024w, https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/britannica-school-high-hero-768x507.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1250px) 100vw, 1250px\" \/><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-content-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-header\">\n            <h3 class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/blog\/updates-to-high-school-level-britannica-school-202502\/\">Britannica School Updates: High School Level<\/a><\/h3>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"wp-block-getwid-post-carousel__post-excerpt\"><p>In 2025, we\u2019re continuing to expand, update, and enhance Britannica School, starting with the launch of a new High School Level design this month.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        \n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Curiosity in science matters, but without explicit instruction to lay the groundwork, inquiry can leave students guessing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2619,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_trash_the_other_posts":false,"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[114],"tags":[143,115,101,105,109,146,148,144,147,118,116,145,120,149],"class_list":["post-2617","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stem","tag-behaviour","tag-britannica-science","tag-education-insights","tag-education-trends","tag-expedition-learn","tag-explicit-instruction","tag-inquiry-based-learning","tag-neuroscience","tag-project-based-learning","tag-science","tag-science-class","tag-self-directed-learning","tag-stem","tag-teaching-strategies"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2617"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2755,"href":"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617\/revisions\/2755"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2619"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2617"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2617"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/britannicaeducation.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2617"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}