All About Inquiry-Based Learning:

Definition, Benefits and Strategies

 January 19, 2017  Marcus Guido  Teaching Strategies

Developed in the 1960s, many teachers see inquiry-based learning as a

new pedagogy — meaning they have questions about how to use it
and if it’s worthwhile.

Like problem-based learning, proponents state that letting students

investigate solutions to open questions has a range of advantages. But
the pedagogy must be shaped by research-backed approaches to reap
these advantages.

Along with a definition, below are the benefits of inquiry-based

learning andstrategies for implementing activities in your classroom.

What Is Inquiry-Based Learning?

If you’re familiar with the definition of inquiry-based learning, feel free
to skip this section.

For the many educators who aren’t, it is a learning and teaching

method that prioritizes student questions, ideas and analyses. To
highlight the pedagogy’s nuances, it is important to define inquiry-based
learning from both a learner and teacher perspective.

From a student point-of-view, inquiry-based learning focuses on

investigating an open question or problem. They must use evidence-
based reasoning and creative problem-solving to reach a conclusion,
which they must defend or present.

From a teacher point-of-view, inquiry-based teaching focuses on

moving students beyond general curiosity into the realms of critical
thinking and understanding. You must encourage students to ask
questions and support them through the investigation process,
understanding when to begin and how to structure an inquiry activity.

Using methods such as guided research, document analysis and question-

and-answer sessions, you can run inquiry activities in the form of:
  Case studies

 Group projects

 Research projects

 Field work, especially for science lessons

 Unique exercises tailored to your students

Whichever kind of activity you use, it should allow students to develop

unique strategies for solving open questions

The 4 Types of Inquiry-Based Learning

There are different kinds of inquiry-based learning, which become
decreasingly structured and suit different classrooms:

 Confirmation Inquiry — You give students a question, its answer

and the method of reaching this answer. Their goal is to build
investigation and critical-thinking skills, learning how the specific
method works.

 Structured Inquiry — You give students an open question and an

investigation method. They must use the method to craft an
evidence-backed conclusion.

 Guided Inquiry — You give students an open question. Typically in

groups, they design investigation methods to reach a conclusion.

 Open Inquiry — You give students time and support. They pose
original questions that they investigate through their own methods,
and eventually present their results to discuss and expand.

Regardless of the type, inquiry-based learning aims to develop students’

abilities to analyze, synthesize and evaluate information — indications of
high-level thinking according to Bloom’s Taxonomy.

7 Benefits of Inquiry-Based Learning

As well as building skills to help students reach a high level of thinking,
inquiry-based learning can deliver other benefits to students and
teachers.

1. Reinforces Curriculum Content

Whereas some see inquiry-based learning as a departure from the

curriculum, you can use it to reinforce relevant content and improve
understanding of core concepts.

This is due to curiosity’s effect on the brain. When a concept sparks

curiosity, there is increased activity in the hippocampus — the region of
the brain responsible for memory creation.

When students show more curiosity than normal regarding a specific

topic, satiate it by using their questions to introduce an inquiry
activity in the coming days.

In doing so, they should effectively retain essential information gleaned

during the exercise, according to a study from the Association for
Psychological Science.

2. “Warms Up” the Brain for Learning

Running a brief inquiry activity to start class can help students absorb

information throughout the day, according to the same study.

Specifically, it states that curiosity prepares the brain for learning —

allowing students to become more proficient at understanding and
remembering skills and concepts.

An easy way to inspire curiosity is by launching an inquiry activity as a

surprise. Related to a recent topic students found especially interesting,
begin a lesson by playing a video or sharing a primary source document.
Then, give students an open question to answer either individually or as a
group.
This will help start class in a curiosity-sparking, intellectually-stimulating
way.

3. Promotes a Deeper Understanding of Content

By delving into a concept through inquiry, students should see it as more

than a simple rule, idea or formula.

Many of them will understand:

 How the idea was developed

 Why the rule or formula works

 When they can properly apply the rule, idea or formula

This is because the process of asking open questions, solving them

through original strategies, empowers students to take ownership of
their learning.Barring hiccups, they should be able to build
understanding of a concept through their own methods and thinking
styles. The same principle applies to experiential learning, which puts
students at the center of the learning experience. 

They won’t have to follow a process they can’t grasp, possibly arriving at a
seemingly-unjustified conclusion.

4. Helps Make Learning Rewarding

Inquiry can help students see the intrinsic rewards of learning, says an oft-
cited article from the Harvard Educational Review.

The author states that many kids learn in an attempt to earn “the rewards
of parental or teacher approval or the avoidance of failure.” As a result,
they may not appreciate the inherent benefits of learning.

He hypothesized that inquiry-based learning instills a different

mindset.

It shows students how fulfilling the act of discovery is, and that theorizing
a new strategy or original conclusion is a reward. Because of this, they
grow to enjoy the learning process itself — not parent or teacher
approval.

This means that student appreciation for learning can improve with a
simple inquiry exercise.

5. Builds Initiative and Self-Direction

Students can improve certain transferable skills through inquiry-based

learning, many of which relate to initiative and self-direction.

This is evident when examining the steps of the inquiry process. Students
learn how to ask questions, investigate, discuss, collaborate,
cooperate and reach their own conclusions. Although they can separately
build these skills through other activities, self-guided inquiry and
analysis synthesizes this development.

Such skills will not only prove useful as students reach higher grades, but
enter post-secondary school and beyond.

6. Works in Almost Any Classroom

Inquiry-based learning can also benefit teachers, as you can repurpose

activities for almost any classroom. Even regardless of grade and
individual skill levels.

This is because you can:

 Adapt the pace and content to suit the needs of students

 Appeal to students who struggle to grasp content through

traditional lessons

 Deliver exercises that greatly differ, using distinct content and

investigation methods

 Use an inquiry exercise as either a “minds-on” activity, review, full

lesson or standalone project
  Reinforce and expand upon any relevant concept, as long as
students have shown curiosity towards it

In these ways, you’ll have the flexibility to provide inquiry exercises to the
majority of your classes year after year.

7. Offers Differentiated Instruction

Running an inquiry-based learning activity will give you a chance to

usedifferentiated instruction strategies, appealing to the diverse
learning styles of your students.

Students can work by themselves, or as part of a small or large group.

Inquiry itself typically involves methods such as discussion and guided
research. You can also provide content in form of text, audio, video and
virtual or physical manipulatives such as building blocks.

Delivering a range of content and ways to process it, inquiry activities can
allow you to meet your students’ distinct learning needs and preferences.

7 Inquiry-Based Learning Strategies and Activities

for Teachers
Like any teaching method, there are strategies to help you successfully
run an inquiry activity. These strategies will also allow you and your
students to enjoy the full extent of inquiry-based learning’s benefits.

1. Keep Guiding Principles in Mind

To run an inquiry activity, there are broad principles you should follow:

 Learners are at the centre of the inquiry process. You, along with
the resources and technology you provide are there to support
them.
  Inquiry activities themselves should concentrate on building
information-processing and critical thinking abilities.

 You should monitor how students develop these skills as they build
conceptual understanding of the topic in question.

 As well as facilitating the exercise, try to learn more about your

students’ learning habits and inquiry-based learning in general.

Keeping these principles in mind should keep you and your students

focused on the overarching purposes of inquiry-based learning.

2. Demonstrate How to Participate

Because students may not be familiar with inquiry-based learning,

consider demonstrating how to participate in an inquiry activity.

Specifically, they must learn how to:

 Contribute ideas

 Develop those ideas

 Question themselves and group members in a constructive manner

 Investigate, to the fullest extent possible, their ideas and

hypotheses

Launching a mock-exercise for the class to tackle as a group, actively

participate to give students a first-hand look at how to complete these
steps. For example, after presenting an open question, facilitate and
contribute to a brainstorming session. This will exemplify pitching and
developing ideas.

Demonstrating how to participate in this way should prepare students for

future exercises.

3. Surprise Students

To spark curiosity and enjoy its aforementioned benefits, run a surprise

inquiry activity.
With little to no context, start class by:

 Playing a video

 Handing out a mathematical formula or list of math word problems

 Distributing a primary source document

The content piece must relate to a topic that interests students, effectively
engaging them. After they’ve examined the content, split them into small
groups and give them an open question to answer.

For example, you may ask them to determine applications for the
mathematical formula or word problems.

As research about curiosity indicates, their findings and conclusions

should stick with them beyond the activity.

4. Use Inquiry when Traditional Methods Won’t Work

Structured or guided inquiry activities can lend themselves to topics that

students typically struggle to grasp, allowing them to process content in
different ways.

Investigating a question you present, they should be able to use their own
techniques to analyze information that may normally be too challenging
otherwise. As a result, they’ll likely form conclusions that make sense to
them.

You can then discuss these conclusions and fill knowledge gaps to ensure
everyone is on the same page.

Furthermore, monitoring students throughout the activity can teach you

about their learning styles, informing how to approach other difficult
lessons. If you are writing report card comments, you may use the
opportunity to observe student behavior.

5. Understand When Inquiry Won’t Work

Inquiry-based learning delivers its share of benefits, but you must
recognize which lessons don’t call for inquiry.

Take this scenario as an example: You want to run a guided inquiry

activity for math class, which (a) introduces negative integers and (b)
requires students to determine the concept’s application in real-life
scenarios.

Asking students to read an introductory text about negative integers will

likely drain time and cause confusion. On the other hand, a brief
overview will allow them to spend more time on the latter part of
the activity, which focuses on analysis and discovery.

As this example shows, there are cases when a simple explanation will
suffice over an elongated activity.

6. Don’t Wait for the Perfect Question

A student can ask a question that stimulates classmates’ curiosity,

signaling you to prepare or launch an inquiry activity. But this is rarely
the case. And you shouldn’t wait for it.

Rather, you can initiate an inquiry activity when you feel it is

appropriate. But it must use a guiding question that:

 Reflects a core curriculum concept

 Has engaged students from past or other classes

 Interests students, as indicated in previous lessons and discussions

The question’s source, whether from you or your students, is secondary.

7. Run a Check-In Afterwards

Allotting time for class-wide reflection lets students discuss challenges

and discoveries, filling knowledge gaps and supplementing findings.
This prepares them for future lessons and inquiry activities. They’ll
learn about an array of ideas to consider throughout their study of the
specific topic, and strategies to try during the next exercise.

It can be especially helpful for learners who struggle in small groups,

giving them a different way to process the activity’s outcomes.

Wrapping Up this Guide to Inquiry-Based Learning

Armed with a thorough understanding of inquiry-based learning and the
strategies you need to run activities, your students should see benefits.

These not only include an improved understanding of curriculum

concepts and the development of transferable skills, but — according to
research and proponents — a greater appreciation for learning’s inherent
rewards.

This, in itself, should create a more engaged classroom.