Inquiry Based Learning

Inquiry Based Learning revolves around asking questions to gain new knowledge and understanding of something new. Although we may not realize it, we live our life through inquiry. For students to become problem solvers, teachers need to examine their methods of teaching to see if they are incorporating enough inquiry activities. Let students ask questions, test out their hypothesis', and then figure out what to do with the information they have learned. Drill and practice has it's place, but it should never be exclusively used. As technology and the Internet expand, it will become increasingly more important for students to be able to synthesize and understand the wealth of information available to them.

As teachers, we are the experts in our classrooms. It is our job to share our knowledge with our students. But what happens if we give our students the information, but then they do not know what to do with it? Also, what good is it to 'know' something without understanding how it came to be known? It is very important for teachers to show students different views from a variety of perspectives. A historian might have a different take than an artist or scientist when it comes to a certain subject. How did the historian come to that point? What kinds of questions did he ask?

Traditional methods of teaching focus on getting specific results. What is the one right answer to the test, or how can I get my students ready for the next grade level? Inquiry learning is more about problem solving and is student-centered rather than teacher-centered. It becomes less about what specifically is known and more about how do we know what we know.

"Well-designed inquiry-learning activities and interactions should be set in a conceptual context so as to help students accumulate knowledge as they progress from grade to grade. Inquiry in education should be about a greater understanding of the world in which they live, learn, communicate, and work."

One of my biggest issues with public school in general is the all important standardized tests. I feel like so much emphasis is put on learning how to take a test, that students miss out on a lot. It should be more about learning skills rather than accumulating information. I want my students to understand why something works the way it does rather than just knowing that it works. Problem solving skills are incredibly important. If our students cannot learn to be good problem solvers, then they are going to struggle when it comes to real life applications. Inquiry is important and should never be overlooked.