What is your experience with inquiry-based learning?

Inquiry-based learning (IBL) is a pedagogical approach that encourages students to explore, question, and investigate topics of interest, rather than relying on direct instruction and memorization. IBL fosters curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking skills, as well as collaboration and communication among peers and teachers. In this article, you will learn about some of the benefits and challenges of IBL, as well as some tips and examples of how to implement it in your classroom.

1 Benefits of IBL

IBL can have positive effects on students' motivation, engagement, and achievement, as well as their attitudes towards learning and themselves. By giving students more autonomy and ownership over their learning process, IBL can increase their interest and relevance in the subject matter, as well as their confidence and self-efficacy. IBL can also help students develop deeper and more meaningful understanding of concepts and skills, as they apply them to real-world situations and problems. Additionally, IBL can promote social and emotional learning, as students learn to work with others, respect different perspectives, and express their ideas and emotions.

Add your perspective

Oyeyemi Benjamin Adegbola

21st Century Educator Championing Inclusive Education and Social & Emotional Learning/Certified IGCSE English as a Second Language Facilitator /TEFL & TEYL/MIE & MIEE/ TRCN/ English to Yorùbá Translator
Report contribution
Inquiry-based learning indeed fosters social and emotional learning skills required to show empathy, and compassion and be mindful of their feelings, words and actions. Learners are motivated to learn, assess themselves and seek feedback to improve their knowledge and skills as lifelong learners.

Like

2 Challenges of IBL

IBL can present certain challenges for students and teachers alike. For example, it can be difficult to find appropriate and accessible resources and materials for students to use in their inquiries. Additionally, managing time and logistics can be a struggle, especially when working with large or diverse groups of students. Guidance and feedback must be provided to students without taking away their autonomy and agency, while assessing their learning outcomes and progress requires both formative and summative methods. Furthermore, it's important to balance the curriculum and standards requirements with the flexibility and diversity of IBL, as well as address potential resistance or confusion from those who may be unfamiliar or skeptical of IBL.

Add your perspective

3 Tips for IBL

To help you tackle the challenges of IBL, here are a few tips to consider. Begin with an intriguing question or problem that is relevant to students' lives and experiences. Allow students to have a choice in how they approach their inquiry and present their findings. Provide them with the tools and strategies needed to plan, research, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information. Create opportunities for collaboration and communication among students, such as by asking open-ended questions and providing feedback. Support their progress by encouraging self-assessment and peer-assessment. Finally, celebrate their learning by creating a positive environment where students can display and communicate their products and processes to a wider audience.

Add your perspective

Oyeyemi Benjamin Adegbola

21st Century Educator Championing Inclusive Education and Social & Emotional Learning/Certified IGCSE English as a Second Language Facilitator /TEFL & TEYL/MIE & MIEE/ TRCN/ English to Yorùbá Translator
(edited)
Report contribution
As a teacher with quality years of experience in the classroom, inquiry-based learning allows learners to do research and present their findings from the lower to the higher order of learning using the Blooms Taxonomy. IBL foster critical thinking skills, communication, creativity and problem-solving.

Like

4 Examples of IBL

Implementing Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) in the classroom is a great way to engage students and help them develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Depending on your subject, grade level, and objectives, there are many IBL activities you can try or adapt. For example, in science, students can design and conduct experiments to test a hypothesis or answer a question. In math, they can explore and apply mathematical concepts to solve real-world problems. In social studies, they can investigate and compare different historical events, cultures, or issues. And in language arts, they can create and analyze different genres of texts. With IBL activities like these, students can gain valuable insights into their subjects and the world around them.

Add your perspective

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

Add your perspective

Oyeyemi Benjamin Adegbola

21st Century Educator Championing Inclusive Education and Social & Emotional Learning/Certified IGCSE English as a Second Language Facilitator /TEFL & TEYL/MIE & MIEE/ TRCN/ English to Yorùbá Translator
Report contribution
Inquiry-based learning should be designed to rekindle learners' interest in a particular area of study for deeper learning and offer them the opportunity to do further research. Inquiry-based learning should be well monitored and evaluated to understand its effectiveness.

Like

What is your experience with inquiry-based learning?

1

2

3

4

5

1 Benefits of IBL

2 Challenges of IBL

3 Tips for IBL

4 Examples of IBL

5 Here’s what else to consider

Teaching

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

More articles on Teaching

More relevant reading

What is your experience with inquiry-based learning?

1

2

3

4

5

1 Benefits of IBL

2 Challenges of IBL

3 Tips for IBL

4 Examples of IBL

5 Here’s what else to consider

Teaching

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

Explore Other Skills