INQUIRY BASED LEARNING

Let me begin this session with a quote.

"If you can't explain it to a six-year-old, you don't understand it yourselves." - Albert Einstein.

More than simply invoking a student's curiosity by asking what he or she wants to know constitutes inquiry-based learning.

In spite of its complexity, inquiry-based learning can be easier on teachers, in part because it gives students more authority and in large part because it motivates students.

Learning something new is the goal of inspiring inquiry, yet inspiring curiosity is no easy task.

Imagine you're scrolling through your Facebook or Twitter feed when you accidentally click a link in your content area. You realise it's a novel fact or a fresh take on an old subject. Perhaps it's a recent TED presentation or statistical graph that helps to put an idea into perspective. Perhaps it's a picture that makes you gasp and wrinkle your brow, "Whaaa?!"

That "whaaa?!" has to be brought into the classroom. You must set an example for others by exhibiting the same level of interest that drives you to study more and expand your knowledge of the world. The Harvard Business Review claims that a higher level of interest can increase one's capacity for handling complexity.

Therefore, consider your content area. What fresh perspective on a subject might you introduce to your students? What fresh information may assist you arouse your own enthusiasm, which in turn might arouse the interest of your students?

Finding your own enthusiasm, interest, and curiosity is the first step in the process. If you do that, you'll be moving towards an inquiry-based classroom.

Are you trying to find a teaching method that will get your students interested in what they are learning? Do you want them to be able to research and pose questions about actual world issues? If so, you ought to give inquiry-based learning some thought.

A teaching strategy called Inquiry-based Learning (IBL) encourages pupils to ponder and research issues from the outside world. This method of education is advantageous in many ways and is applicable to many different subject areas.

Inquiry-based learning encourages participation among students and critical thinking. This learning combines student curiosity with the scientific method. Here's how to get started with IBL in the classroom.

In contrast to conventional classroom instruction, which involves a teacher imparting facts and information about a subject, IBL is an educational strategy in which students follow methods and practices similar to those of professional scientists in order to construct knowledge.

In other words, it is a teaching strategy that puts students at the centre of instruction, and encourages students to research and ponder real-world issues. Students are actively involved in the learning process and given the chance to explore their inborn interests in this type of learning environment. It has been demonstrated that inquiry-based learning fosters greater creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.

There are four types of inquiry-based learning:

1. The Structured Inquiry Approach

The structured inquiry technique is a step-by-step procedure that teaches students how to research issues in the actual world and formulate questions. Science classes frequently employ this style of inquiry-based learning, where students are given a subject to research and are instructed on how to apply the scientific method to find a solution.

2. The Open-Ended Inquiry Approach

An approach to inquiry-based learning that is more free-form is the open-ended inquiry method. Students are free to explore their interests and ask questions about the material they are studying in this kind of learning environment. Inquiry-based learning is frequently utilised in humanities classrooms, where students are required to investigate a subject in-depth and discuss opposing points of view.

3. The Problem-Based Inquiry Approach

Students are given a real-world challenge to address in this type of methodology. In mathematics classes, where students are required to use what they have learned to solve a real-world problem, this style of inquiry-based learning is frequently used.

4. The Guided Inquiry Approach

An approach to inquiry-based learning that is teacher-led is the guided inquiry approach. With this kind of instruction, the teacher helps the students ask questions, investigate issues, and come up with solutions. Inquiry-based learning is a common teaching strategy in elementary and middle school settings.

The Teacher Starts the Inquiry process in this method of learning. Students bear a large deal of responsibility for learning during inquiry-based sessions, but teachers remain critical guides in ensuring that learning occurs. Several variables influence teacher’s roles in inquiry-based learning:

• They foster and guide focused discourse and discussion among students striving to answer their questions.

• The teacher transitions pupils from small-group to whole-classroom conversations. They are in charge of the changeover.

• Teachers listen to debates and correct misconceptions. They offer information to help students grasp the content better, and they incorporate student experiences into the discussion to make learning more relevant. Students do inquiry, which means they enquire about and independently research challenges that exist in the real world.

This is undoubtedly a student-centred teaching strategy. The teacher will provide direction as the pupils conduct their own research to address any natural curiosity that may have arisen in their minds. At the conclusion of the day, we could see that their critical thinking, analytical, and creative abilities had all improved.

I can claim that this is now a well-liked teaching strategy. Obviously, there are several advantages to this kind of instruction. It promotes critical and analytical thinking as well as problem-solving abilities, as I said previously.

Consider this. Are there any chances that pupils will come up with innovative concepts if given the chance to investigate any topic on their own? Probably yes, because they are not constrained by only one style of thinking.

Effective communication develops as a result of the students' frequent need to communicate their ideas and thoughts to others when working on a problem. Additionally, while comparing what they are learning in class to issues in the real world, students can understand how relevant what they are studying is. Yes, this approach helps not only students, but even for the adults to understand any topic better.

This form of learning is enhanced by carrying out science experiments, planning field trips, conducting classroom debates, project work, group work, etc.

Let me conclude by the following recap.

1. Organizing Field trips will give the pupils the chance to investigate issues from the actual world thereby leads to enhance their analytical skills.

2. Conducting debates in a classroom will force kids to consider both sides of an issue seriously thereby increasing their thinking skills.

3. Students are more likely to learn and retain information when given the chance to work on a project that is connected to the subject they are studying.

4. Students are able to communicate their ideas and opinions to others when they work in groups. This aids their comprehension of the idea.

Strategies and Tips for Implementing Inquiry-Based Learning

1. Start with a Question

A question is the ideal method to begin an inquiry-based class. Students will be encouraged to ask their own questions as a result of this getting them to reflect on the subject.

2. Allow for Exploration

After posing a query, let students conduct independent research on the subject. They will comprehend the subject matter more fully as a result.

3. Encourage Discussion

Encourage your kids to exchange ideas with one another. They will gain a deeper comprehension of the subject as a result.

4. Provide Resources

Make sure to give kids access to materials so they can research the subject. They will comprehend things better as a result of this. Online learning platforms are another type of resource that can help with improving concept understanding.

5. Summarize What Was Learned

Make sure to summarise the key points taught at the conclusion of the class. Students will retain the knowledge thanks to this.

In your classroom, you can promote inquiry-based learning through a variety of strategies. Allowing pupils to participate actively in the learning process is crucial.

Here I have tried to explain some of the most significant advantages of inquiry-based learning as well as practical implementation tactics, and I hope this has motivated you to try it in your classroom.