Making sense of inquiry based learning

As students enter the education system in kindergarten parents often feel that their child is playing all day.  In my years of being an educator parents often become frustrated and upset because they feel that their children are playing all day and not learning anything while they are starting school.  Educating parents about the aspects of inquiry based learning from the kindergarten curriculum has been a challenge.  Not only is this shown within the kindergarten curriculum however it is expanding into other grades as well. Educators follow the backwards design beginning with looking at the curriculum documents and gathering a big idea on what they will see their students learning.  After finding out the big idea you need to begin to ask questions.  This could be place on a wonder wall within the classroom where students can write down questions or things they wonder about.  From these wonder questions, the educator provides a big question that allows students to investigate and find answers to support their own learning.  These questions turn into one big inquiry that is created to cover a variety of concepts. These questions can also become cross curricular including a variety of subjects.  As an educator I often find this part the most difficult part to do.  Students begin their investigation using a variety of materials to find their answers.  They can use technology or books to look for answers or may build something to figure out answers.  During this process the educator is monitoring and guiding the inquiry process.  They are also documenting the process to use for assessment later on.  

The Inquiry-Based learning process. 

The next step requires students to discuss their findings with other students.  This can be a presentation, paper, a model/figure that they have created or anything else that shows their findings.  Students enter the reflecting portion and  begin to share what worked and what didn't. They also reflect on how they learned. A self assessment can be completed during this stage. 

Some educators (including myself) incorporated Genius hour into my classroom as my beginning step into teaching inquiry based learning.  I experienced this during my grade 6 placement in teacher's college.  I knew how to incorporate inquiry based learning in the younger years (preschool and kindergarten) but did not know how to explore this in older grades.  This allowed me to see the benefits first before adjusting my whole classroom into this style.  Genius hour occurred once a week (I choose Wednesdays) for an hour a day the students got to work on their passion projects (something that interests them).  Students spent several weeks researching the topic before they started to created a product they shared with the class.  Throughout this process I would document the process and ensure the students stayed on task.  Students got a choose on how they would share their new product to the class.  This was rewarding to me and the students!  Take a peak at the video below for more details or visit http://www.geniushour.com/.

 

Over the years as an educator I have found the love for inquiry based learning.  It has been a huge learning curve for me but a rewarding one.  Seeing the excitement from my students when they find out answers on their own, the stronger relationships students build with one another, the communication skills they develop, the confidence that the students have in their own ideas and the ability to share them with their peers is rewarding!  My advice for any educator taking the jump is to take baby steps into it and begin to see the rewards and you will change your thinking and teaching style. 

“Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand.”
– Chinese proverb