What is Inquiry -Students have a sense of agency and
Inquiry-based learning is an approach to
teaching and learning that places students
questions, ideas and observations at the
centre of the learning experience.
For students, the process often involves open-
ended investigations into a question or a
problem, requiring them to engage in
evidence-based reasoning and creative
problem-solving, as well as problem
finding.. Students use their natural curiosity
to lead them through content.
Benefits of Inquiry
-Learning is reciprocal
-Students are active members in their learning
-By focusing on the big ideas rather than on
the specific expectations alone, students
questions often lead them to exceed, the
overall curriculum.
responsibility for their learning
What Inquiry is NOT:
-Inquiry is not teacher-lead.
-Inquiry is not individual drill and practice using
textbooks
-Inquiry is not disconnected from the real world.
-Inquiry is not subject specific
-Inquiry is not seeing mistakes as failure.
enacted understanding. For educators, the
Inquiry-Based
Learning
By: Amanda and Alexandria
Role of the Educator
Educators play an active role throughout the
process by establishing a culture where ideas
are respectfully challenged, tested, redefined
and viewed as improvable, moving children
from a position of wondering to a position of
process is about being responsive to the
students learning needs, and most
importantly, knowing when and how to
introduce students to ideas that will move
them forward in their inquiry.
Teachers model how to contribute and
extend ideas, how to question and how to
carry out an investigation.
How to Start Inquiry
-Look at the curriculum and gather the Big
Ideas
-Design learning opportunity that allow
students to explore real-life situations
-Ask students questions about the topic
including possibly a KWL chart (What do we
know, What do we Want to Know leaving
What did we learn until the end)
-Allow students to explore and collaborate
about the topic
 -Listen and
observe what
the students
are saying
and doing
*Ask students
how they can
go about
finding the answers to their questions
*Set out rules and expectations around being
respectful of others opinions and accepting of
peoples ideas and mistakes
What to do During:
-Facilitate discussions among students
-Differentiate
-Challenge and extend thinking
-Provide opportunities for students to
demonstrate their learning
-Assess student learning
-Allow students to celebrate their learning
-Encourage students to share their ideas
-Allow for peer and self-assessment
-Continue to reinforce the class community
atmosphere of respect, support and
encouragement among students

Source:
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/inspire/research/CBS_StudentI
nquiry.pdf