It seems that every day of the past ten months has been a new chapter in history, and our students have front row seats as it unfolds. It makes me wonder, “What are we learning from all of this? ARE we learning from all of this?” Inquiry-based learning could be one of the keys to ensuring that we make meaning of our experiences and pursue a more profound understanding to guide future decisions. In her book, The Power of Inquiry: Curiosity, Creativity and Purpose in the Contemporary Classroom, Kath Murdoch defines inquiry:
“Inquiry is an approach that places the learner and learning central to what the teacher thinks, says and does. Learning happens through thorough investigation which in itself is driven by powerful questions often framed by authentic contexts and real-life problems and purposes.” (Murdoch, 2015)
I believe that inquiry-based learning is one of the most powerful methods of teaching. It equips and empowers every student to think deeply and desire to learn more. It makes each of us vulnerable as we admit that we have questions, and we develop a community in which we learn alongside others.
There are some misconceptions regarding inquiry-based learning. It is not merely giving students a question, handing them a computer, and wishing them luck. Inquiry is also not always research on the internet. Instead, inquiry starts with student questions, is planned and supported by a teacher, and ends with reflection (before beginning again). Here’s a table to further elucidate (a pdf may be downloaded by clicking the image):
Four main factors bring inquiry-based learning to life: an authentic challenge, a class culture that values curiosity, cycles of questioning/researching, and a teacher who is an inquiry coach. We’ve started a resource list to support you in each of these areas. Please note that many of the resources fit into multiple categories.
Authentic challenges
Libraries, resources, examples, and ideas for authentic challenges to drive inquiry
Video: Local Issues Make Science Learning Meaningful (Edutopia, 2018)
Library: BSCS Invitations to Inquiry (BSCS)
Library: OpenSciEd unit library (OpenSciEd)
Library: Facing History and Ourselves unit library (Facing History and Ourselves)
Library: PBLWorks project library (PBLWorks)
Library: C3 Teachers Inquiries (C3 Teachers)
Resource: NPR Student Podcast Challenge (NPR)
Resource: Nepris (Nepris)
Resource: National History Day (NHD)
Building a culture of inquiry
Strategies for building a culture of inquiry and examples of inquiry coming to life
Strategy: Chalk Talk (School Reform Initiative, 2019)
Strategy: See, Think, Wonder (Project Zero, 2019)
Resource: Being Intentionally Inclusive Poster (Applied Coaching for Projects, 2020)
Blog: Establishing a Culture of Questioning (Edutopia, 2018)
Blog: Who is entitled to ask questions in class? {Excerpt from AMBQ} (A More Beautiful Question, 2014)
Blog: 10 Tips For Launching An Inquiry-Based Classroom (KQED, 2015)
Blog: How to Spark Curiosity in Children Through Embracing Uncertainty (KQED, 2015)
Video: TED talk - Ramsey Musallam: Three rules to spark learning (TED, 2013)
Video: Putting Students in Charge of Their Learning Journey (Edutopia, 2019)
Cycles of inquiry
Resources and strategies to structure and support cycles of inquiry with learners
Strategy: “How We Use “Need to Know” Questions to Guide Sustained Inquiry” (PBLWorks, 2019)
Strategy: Reading Frenzy (Applied Coaching for Projects, 2020)
Strategy: The Question Formulation Technique (Right Question Institute)
Strategy: I Used to Think... Now I Think… (Project Zero, 2015)
Strategy: Jigsaw (described on pages 36-37 of Connecting Together) (Applied Coaching for Projects, 2020)
Blog: Student Historians: inquiry-based learning in a social studies class (Teaching Channel, 2013)
Video: Inquiry-Based Learning: Developing Student-Driven Questions (Edutopia, 2015)
Video: Collaborative Reading: Building Successful Readers Together (Edutopia, 2019)
Video: Inquiry-Based Learning: From Teacher-Guided to Student-Driven (Edutopia, 2015)
Coaching Inquiry
Things to consider and strategies to use as you deepen your coaching practice
Strategy: Five Whys for Inquiry (School Reform Initiative, 2017)
Strategy: What Makes You Say That? (Project Zero)
Blog: How do inquiry teachers….teach? (Kath Murdoch, 2014)
Blog: Math and Inquiry: The Importance of Letting Students Stumble (KQED, 2014)
Blog: Curiosity: The Force Within a Hungry Mind (Edutopia, 2015)
Blog: Avoiding Learned Helplessness (Edutopia, 2015)
Blog: "I Wonder" Questions: Harnessing the Power of Inquiry (Edutopia, 2015)
Blog: How to Bring 'More Beautiful' Questions Back to School (KQED, 2016)
Resource: Pocket Guide to Probing Questions (We also have a nice poster here) (School Reform Initiative, 2017)
What are your favorite resources for inquiry-based learning? What stories of the power of inquiry can you tell from your own experience? We'd love to hear from you! Until then, stay curious!