Inquiry-Based Learning

Inquiry-Based Learning

1. Teacher

   • Engage students in learning
   • Establish a culture where ideas are respectfully challenged, tested, redefined and viewed as improvable
   • Model how to contribute and extend ideas
   • Gather class on a regular basis
   • Integrate curriculum

2. Student

   • Questions, ideas and observations at centre of the learning experience
   • Share responsibility for learning
     • Co-author the learning experience
     • Accept mutual responsibility for planning
     • Equal partner role
     • Spark curiosity
   • Open-ended investigations
   • Evidence based reasoning
   • Creative problem-solving
   • Collaborate contributions
   • Reflection

3. Guiding Principles

   • Don't wait for the perfect question
     • Can be simple
     • Teacher initiated
     • Shared experience
     • Build on spontaneous questions
   • Place ideas at the centre
     • Express ideas, then challenge and test one another's
   • Work towards a common goal of understanding
     • Bring the class together to "check in", share and discuss ideas
   • Remain faithful to the student's line of inquiry
     • Help students overcome obstacles and extend their thinking
       • Impromptu mini-lessons, revisiting former concept/idea, review success criteria, introduce new questions
   • Teach directly on a need-to-know basis
     • Not all learning opportunities call for an inquiry approach
   • Don't let go of the class
     • Student thinking can be limited and will need guidance