What is Inquiry-Based Learning Approach?

It is a student-centered and teacher-guided instructional approach that engages students in investigating real world questions that they choose within a broad thematic framework. It focuses on questions through problem-solving activities and the use of critical thinking. It is also based on asking questions that students honestly care about and guiding them to find the answers as well as coming up with new questions along the way.

  Benefits of Inquiry-Based Learning

• Versatility - teaches problem-solving, critical thinking skills and disciplinary content across content areas
• Connected to the real world -  reinforces multiple skills and allows students to build their confidence to know where and how to get wanted information
• Promotes the transfer of concepts to new problem questions
• Flexibility – it teaches students how to learn and builds self-directed learning skills.
• Highly motivating - develops student ownership of the learning and enhances student interest in the subject matter.

Traditional teaching focuses more on

LEARNING ABOUT THINGS

while Inquiry-Based Learning is on

LEARNING THINGS.

    Characteristics of Inquiry-Based Learning

·        Focuses on questions that are challenging, debatable and difficult to solve

·        Teaches students specific procedures, strategies or processes essential to the attempts   at answering the focus questions

·        Includes opportunities for students to access information that is crucial to the inquiry

·        Structures the lessons so that students have opportunities to work with peers

·        Builds into lessons the opportunities for performance

·        Involves students in the process of deriving standards for performance

·        Relies on authentic assessment of learning.

    Criteria for Successful IBL

1.     Start with a guided exploration of a topic as a whole class.

2.   Proceed to student small group inquiry about an open-ended, debatable, contended  issue.

3.     Encourage students to ask personally relevant and socially significant questions.

4.     Work in groups to achieve diversity of views.

5.     Predict, set goals, and define outcomes.

6.     Find or create information, look for patterns.

7.     Instruction serves as a guide to help students meet their goal.

8.  Create a tangible artifact that addresses the issue, answers questions and makes learning    visible and accountable.

9.     Learning is actualized and accountable in the design accomplishment.

10. Arrive at a conclusion…take a stand, take action.

11. Document, justify and share conclusion with a larger audience.

   

    Application

1.   List at least two inquiry-based activities that are applicable to all subject areas.
2.   Describe / share to the group the activities that you have created.