Understanding the Difference Between Inquiry and Three-Dimensional Instruction Teachers who begin using Argument-Driven Inquiry (ADI) sometimes notice something that feels different from other inquiry-based lessons they have taught. A common question sounds something like this: “I’ve just started my first ADI lesson and noticed that students read quite a bit of information early in the activity. Normally I would have students investigate first and discover the pattern themsel

Open educational resources like OpenSciEd offer powerful storylines, but many teachers struggle with pacing and student engagement. Argument-Driven Inquiry (ADI) provides a practical jumping-off point—ready-to-use, hands-on investigations that fit naturally into OER units. Learn how ADI can serve as a benchmark or mid-unit checkpoint, giving students a complete cycle of questioning, data collection, and argumentation while keeping your NGSS instruction on track.

Crosscutting concepts help students see connections across science disciplines, from patterns and cause-and-effect to systems and stability. In ADI investigations, these concepts are woven into every stage of inquiry, giving students the tools to think more deeply, make sense of complex phenomena, and apply their learning in meaningful ways.