The Beautiful Chaos of Inquiry

Abstract

This autobiographical narrative details a veteran science educator’s transformation from a traditional teacher into a scholar-practitioner within a long-term research-practice partnership (RPP). Prompted by mid-career stagnation, the author embraced the STEM-to-STEAM movement, integrating project-based learning and critical making. A 2017 collaboration with McGill University on student-directed inquiry (SDI) served as a critical turning point, forcing her to navigate imposter syndrome and cede classroom control. Over nine years, this work evolved into a robust cross-curricular framework that dismantles subject silos. Now a McGill PhD student and RPP mentor, the author models a “fail forward” mindset, demonstrating how shifting from an all-knowing expert to a curious co-creator enriches student agency.