Inquiry-Based Learning
From: "What is Inquiry-Based Learning?"
From Constructivism as a Paradigm for Teaching and Learning. Concept
to Classroom web site, http://www.wnet.org/wnetschool/concept2class/month6/
Unfortunately, our traditional educational system has worked in a way
that discourages the natural process of inquiry. Students become less
prone to ask questions as they move through the grade levels. In traditional
schools, students learn not to ask too many questions, instead to listen
and repeat the expected answers. Some of the discouragement of our natural
inquiry process may come from a lack of understanding about the deeper
nature of inquiry-based learning. There is even a tendency to view it
as "fluff" learning. Effective inquiry is more than just asking
questions. A complex process is involved when individuals attempt to convert
information and data into useful knowledge. 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.
Well-designed inquiry learning produces knowledge formation that can be
widely applied.
The inquiry approach is more focused on using and learning content as
a means to develop information-processing and problem-solving skills.
The system is more student centered, with the teacher as a facilitator
of learning. There is more emphasis on "how we come to know"
and less on "what we know." Students are more involved in the
construction of knowledge through active involvement. The more interested
and engaged students are by a subject or project, the easier it will be
for them to construct in-depth knowledge of it. Learning becomes almost
effortless when something fascinates students and reflects their interests
and goals.
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