INQUIRY BASED TEACHING

What do you understand by the term ‘Inquiry’?

Think - Pair - Share

Inquiry Inquiry learning is a form of active learning, where progress is assessed by howactive learning well students develop experimental and analytical skills rather than how much knowledge they possess. "Inquiry" is defined as "a seeking for truth, information, or knowledge -- seeking information by questioning.“ Discovery-based or inquiry-based learning promotes learning through discovery and encourages students to ask questions, find appropriate materials to answer those questions and communicate the results effectively

Characteristics of inquiry are student centered and directed emphasize process and skill development require students to ask questions are conceptual based rather than factual encourages learner interaction build upon prior knowledge utilize and consider students interests involves the application of ideas

In sum, when the students take the role of active learner, the teacher’s role changes from dispenser of knowledge to facilitator of learning.. What the student acquires is not only content, knowledge but skills in how to – approach a problem, identify important resources, both design and carry out hands on investigations, analyse and interpret data and perhaps most importantly recognize when they have answered the question or solved a problem.

The stages of inquiry 5 E’s Engage Explore Explain Elaborate Evaluate

Engage – design ways to engage the students and focus them on the instructional tasks. Explore- the students have the opportunity to get directly involved with the phenomena and materials. Explain- the learner begins to put the learning into a communicable form. Elaborate-the students expand on the concepts they have learned, make connections to other related concepts and apply their learning to the world around them. Evaluate- is an on going diagnostic process that allows the teacher to determine if the learner has attained understanding of concepts and knowledge.

The Inquiry Cycle by John Dewey ask reflect investigate discuss create

How to set up your classroom to Maximize Inquiry Make it more child specific, have a look at the local materials in your area, add up as you go, depending on where the Inquiry is leading to. All sorts of materials for the child to explore. Set up different corners in the classroom. Putting up provocations on the bulletin boards. Set up may be changed periodically by bringing in manipulative which are more challenging as the children progress. Everything labeled with pictures/names at children’s level. Safe and inviting environment with enough resources for them to explore in all areas of development. Depending on your central idea, the environment would be set up accordingly. Resources like books, human resources, visuals, hands on materials can be made use of. Photos of children’s inquiry activities to provide opportunity for reflection and drive further inquiry.