Imagine a 21st century classroom filled with engaged learners asking questions and problem-solving and growing more immersed in the research they are critically analysing.
The classroom bubbles with growing noise as learners begin to discuss their new knowledge and share their investigations - turning ideas into actions. Others are already communicating outside the school walls, confidently stepping into the ‘real world’ to voice their opinions, listening to others and encouraging change.
This is a classroom full of inquiry.
What is inquiry?
Classroom-based inquiry is an approach to learning that allows learners to deep dive into a topic but in the direction they choose. By formulating their own inquiring questions, learners make choices and direct their own curiosity. Although ultimately student-led, the teacher’s responsibility is to ease the learner into their inquiry path by providing structure that they gradually remove until the learner is fully free and controlling their own inquiry.
Inquiry suits any subject and age and, by its very nature, is the perfect differentiation option, allowing all learners to push off from their own starting points.
In an English class this is an ideal resource to kick off inquiry learning.
How? The first step is teacher-led, exposing learners to spooky stimuli, igniting their curiosity but directing their learning to complete a scaffolded literacy task with this accompanying worksheet.
Now learners can begin their inquiry journey: where would they like to take their learning? They decide. A teacher and, indeed, other students can help the next steps on their journey. Will they research more poetry with a similar theme? Explore novels, writers or other media? Write more of their own? Undertake research into local folklore? Take on a project to discover local storytellers? Organise a cultural exchange event to share live storytelling through a variety of media? The options are endless. Whether a learner embarks on their inquiry journey individually or as a group, their journeys evolve at different paces but all will be personal.
Why develop inquiry skills?
Inquiring learners are building the skills they need to become lifelong learners, critical thinkers and effective communicators. All these skills are desirable for success beyond school when learners take their steps into the world of work or further education. Even approaching the choices of their next steps with an inquiring mind will enable learners to fully probe and investigate their options, leading to more fulfilling opportunities.
Skills Development Scotland’s recent publication ‘Skills 4.0: A skills model to drive Scotland’s future’ outlines the necessity of key inquiry skills for the next generation to create success and change, for themselves and Scotland to thrive in a fast-paced and ever-changing world.
Learning for Sustainability
As educators, we’ve been implementing LfS initiatives in our classrooms for over ten years. One of its main purposes is to enable learners to contribute and build a sustainable society around them now and for the future. LfS and inquiry-based learning go hand in hand, focusing on the development of the same skills to realise the same goals.
Step into a Geography class and you are guaranteed to perfectly see the merging of these two philosophies.
How? A Geography classroom explores real-world problems and learners work creatively together to find sustainable solutions. COP 27 may be behind us, but sadly the problems highlighted are not. Geography learners have not stopped discussing solutions, even if some nations have. This blether station resource prompts learners to brainstorm ideas across a variety of issues. Learners can then dive deeper into an issue of their choice and begin a geographical inquiry to find out and understand more about it, but also communicate and formulate actions to address it. This process and thinking will make our future world more sustainable
UNCRC
In 2021 the Scottish Parliament passed the UNCRC into Scots law.
A key part of this charter is respect for children’s views. We have an obligation to provide learners with the skills to formulate, critically analyse and confidently share their views. In addition, we must also allow learners to develop the skills to listen and respectfully challenge others’ views. All these key skills are nurtured in an inquiry-led classroom.
This Reflective Writing Listening Exercise resource is a fantastic lesson to build the skills learners need to begin to find their voice and can be advanced further through more listening and talking resources found here for BGE learners.
Beating AI
As AI apps like ChatGPT rapidly become mainstream, learners must be equipped with the skills to triumph in education and life. At the moment, AI can compete on many levels of our current assessment methods and life roles, but if we impart learners with inquiring and communication skills, they can really show their true creative potential and work with AI instead of in competition with it.
There are plenty more Conduit resources to hone inquiry skills in BGE classes following the Scottish CfE. Click here for Conduit English resources and other secondary areas.
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