A Culture of Inquiry

We often hear the word “inquiry” used in our classrooms. Learning is planned around a unit of inquiry. So what does this mean?

Inquiry is a way of learning and teaching that is all about triggering curiosity and excitement. We know that children love to ask questions – it’s how they make sense of the world and their place in it. Formulating questions is the initial phase of learning through inquiry, questions that the students want to find answers to. In the classroom, questions are a powerful tool for teachers to promote thinking and learning and when children are able to pose questions and investigate them they feel in charge of their learning. They buy-into their learning through ownership and responsibility. The student questions, usually placed on the classroom Wonder Wall, are researched and answers are found. Students present their knowledge and understanding as a result of the research, tasks and activities carried out. The final phase of inquiry learning is reflecting on what worked well and what didn’t, what could be changed next time in terms of knowledge and skills.

In an inquiry classroom teachers are co-learners working with children engaging in sustained and shared conversations. Through such conversations teachers are able to enrich and guide thinking and learning and students can gain new understandings of themselves, the learning process and the topic under investigation. This means that there is less of a focus on transmitting knowledge and more about supporting and extending the children’s attempts at understanding. Time, space and resources are provided to allow the students to become deeply involved in investigations. Learning is richer and more effective when it develops over time and when there are opportunities for planning and reflection throughout the experience. The class routine allows for blocks of uninterrupted time in which to think, investigate and explore. Thinking and learning happens more effectively when they are unhurried as ideas need time to develop.

Inquiry is a collaborative task. Learning is enriched when children work with others to solve a problem or investigate an interest. Exposure to others’ ideas and perspectives help broaden individual understandings and as children work together on a joint project they develop strong relationships with each other.

Inquiry learning creates a culture of investigation and active learning, supporting and encouraging questions and curiosity together with skills of problem solving, experimentation and prediction.

Sue Gough – Teacher Librarian/PYP Co-ordinator