INQUIRY BASED LEARNING (IBL)

WHAT IS INQUIRY BASED LEARNING?

Inquiry - is defined as a seeking for truth, information, or knowledge -- seeking information by questioning.

Inquiry based learning is one of many terms used to describe educational approaches that are driven more by a learner’s questions than by a teacher’s lessons.

It implies involvement that leads to understanding.

HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH?

In general, the traditional approach to

learning is focused on mastery of content,

with less emphasis on the development of

skills and the nurturing of inquiring attitudes

while the inquiry approach is more focused

on using and learning content as a means to

develop information-processing and problem-

solving skills.

USEFUL APPLICATION OF INQUIRY LEARNING INVOLVES SEVERAL FACTORS:

a context for questions

a framework for questions

a focus for questions

and different levels of questions

The 4 basic stages defining self-directed learning:

Determining what they need to learn

Identifying resources and how best to learn from them

Using resources and reporting their learning

Assessing their progress in learning

ADVANTAGES OF INQUIRY BASED LEARNING:

It is flexible and works well for projects that range from the extensive to the bounded, from the research oriented to creative, from the laboratory to the internet.

It validates the experience and knowledge that all kids bring to the learning process.

Students who have trouble in school because they do not respond well to lectures and memorization will blossom in an inquiry-based learning setting.

ADVANTAGES OF INQUIRY BASED LEARNING:

It is well suited to collaborative learning environments and team projects.

It can work with any age group.

The traditional approach tends to be very vertical while IBL is at it’s best when working on interdisciplinary projects that reinforce multiple skills or knowledge areas.

HUMAN SOCIETY AND INDIVIDUALS WITHIN SOCIETY CONSTANTLY GENERATE AND TRANSMIT THE FUND OF KNOWLEDGE.

THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF EFFECTIVE INQUIRY LEARNING:

Experts see patterns and meanings not apparent to novices.

Experts have in-depth knowledge of their fields, structured so that it is most useful.

Experts' knowledge is not just a set of facts -- it is structured to be accessible, transferable, and applicable to a variety of situations.

Experts can easily retrieve their knowledge and learn new information in their fields with little effort.

WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH MY

CLASSROOM?

The traditional focus of education is no longer appropriate. The world has changed: local apprenticeships are rare, and young people must master new ways of acting and thinking. Our society is becoming increasingly larger and more complexly diverse. Young people must develop an understanding for the complexities of modern life and be able to grapple with new ethical and practical issues. We must educate our young so they can participate as responsible members in contemporary society. They also need to be given the chance to grow and develop fulfilling personal identities in settings that are relatively free of risk.

The End