Inquiry Based Learning

Inquiry Based Learning is an approach to learning where students develop strategies to engage with a topic, explore it through an inquiry question, explain how they were able to draw conclusions and elaborate and evaluate/reflect on their performance.

The approach is based on teachers giving students the opportunity to share prior knowledge and understanding then take students beyond what they know. Students then organise any new information learnt, investigate areas of personal interest and reflect on what they have learnt. Teachers facilitate this student-centred model, so that ultimately, students can develop responsibility for their learning.

Implementation:

• Students work individually, in pairs or in groups to work on open-ended investigations
• Students are given the opportunity to participate in incursions, excursions and fieldwork and to listen to/learn from guest speakers
• Learning goals and success criteria are visible and are referred to throughout the inquiry