Outline

These professional development sessions explore how we can shift the balance of agency in the classroom from teacher-led to student-centred. There is no 'one size fits all' approach to education. At times it is appropriate for the teacher to control the flow of information and knowledge sharing, for example through explicit instruction. At other times it may be more suitable for students to have agency and control over their own learning through student-centred and inquiry-based learning experiences.

Inquiry based learning: overview
Advantages and disadvantages
10 reasons to use inquiry based learning
Inquiry based learning in your subject
Connect, extend, challenge reflection

Learning design principles

Inquiry based learning

Power - Inquiry based learning

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Learn more about how to launch an Inquiry-based classroom from Mind/Shift blog by KQED

Inquiry based learning

In inquiry-based learning, the students are presented with materials or a new subject before conducting research, solving problems, and generating solutions. It is based on the premise that students engage more in the learning when they have agency and more control over the directions they will take.

Inquiry-based learning still requires a great deal of knowledge and support from the teacher. It is a myth that student-centred styles of education are a “free for all” or that the teacher is not involved. Students still need guidance and support to understand the problem, engage with the subject, find and critically respond to research, and devise a solution.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

Can be highly engaging and motivating for students
Allows for a very creative atmosphere in the classroom
Provides students multiple ways to access the curriculum
Encourages higher order learning skills, collaboration, and critical thinking

Disadvantages

Can take a long time for students to acquire the knowledge compared to explicit instruction
The quality of the learning may degrade if the process is not monitored and supported
Students may get lost of confused in the process
Student results may actually decrease in standardised testing

Sketchnote by Sylvia Duckworth with Trevor Mackenzie

Inquiry-based learning in your subject

When considering whether explicit instruction is suitable, ask yourself the following questions:

Which areas of your curriculum/subject would benefit from flexibility and student choice?
Does the inquiry based process form a whole lesson, a sequence of lessons, or just part of a lesson?
Would it be suitable for students to find this information for themselves, or does it need to be taught consistently and directly to all students.
Can all of the students in the classroom access the activity?

Connect - Extend - Question

How are the ideas and information presented connected to what I already know?
Which new ideas extended, broadened, or deepened my thinking?
What questions or challenges does this raise in my mind?

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