Enquiry-based learning is a student-centred approach that incorporates asking and exploring questions, therefore enabling deeper and more meaningful engagement and understanding.
There are four main forms of inquiry-based learning. These are:
– Confirmation enquiry, in which students are given a question, along with its answer and relevant method.
They must discover how this method works and confirm the results.
– Structured enquiry, in which students are given an open-ended question, along with its relevant method, to investigate.
– Guided enquiry, in which students are only given an open-ended question. They must work, often in groups, to design and conduct an investigation.
– Open enquiry, in which students devise, explore and investigate their own questions, with the teacher offering guidance and support. Eventually students should present their findings.
Enquiry-based learning offers a wealth of benefits. It encourages students’ natural curiosity, making content more memorable and allowing students to feel invested in their learning. It also helps develop a wide range of skills, including creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication.
Creating an enquiry-based classroom requires consistency. It is important not to think of enquiry as something limited to a certain project or lesson, but rather as an underpinning ethos. For example, it is important that teachers model thinking skills verbally for students to replicate. As well as this, teachers should be prepared to let student questions set the pace of learning. This can sometimes sound easier than it is, as the pressure to meet particular standards is a reality for many teachers. But remember, building background knowledge in varied and creative ways (such as through videos and images, rather than reading or lecturing) creates more time and enthusiasm for in depth engagement and understanding.
A useful tip is to try implementing an enquiry-based approach towards a topic that already struggles to keep students’ attention. You won’t lose anything – and you might just discover something that opens up your classroom forever!
