Create a blog entry that describes how your thoughts about inquiry based learning have developed over the past week. What new insights have you developed? Has anything changed? Are there any "burning questions" that you feel need to be answered?
Before this class began, I wondered how it would be different from Project Based Learning. Both methods create student centered classrooms and the focus is on answering questions. Even though project based learning has a question to motivate student research, it tends to revolve around projects in the learning process. Inquiry based learning is focused entirely on the questions asked and process of searching for the answer.
In trying to understand the differences, I am particularly drawn to the question process. One of the readings this week listed the Criteria for Problem Question Selection. It follows as:
"1. Is it personally relevant and socially significant? Is the student truly interested in the question?
2. Is it researchable?
3. Is it big enough and small enough?"
(Northern Illinois University)
Making certain that the student is truly interested in the question is the key to making inquiry based learning work.
Inquiry based learning is an exciting idea. I am all for it, but being a naturally inquisitive person I feel very comfortable with the idea. I know far too many teachers who would not so easily welcome such organized chaos into their classrooms. They are so set in the teacher centered method of teaching. I do not know how they can be convinced to even consider the thought.
The greatest question I have is not in getting students to work, I think this is the easy part, but in helping teachers take those first steps in trying inquiry based learning in their classrooms. Can we devise an "easy does it" method for those so unwilling or fearful?
Resources:
Northern Illinois University. Retrieved March 15, 2010 from http://www.neiu.edu/~middle/Modules/science%20mods/amazon%20components/AmazonComponents2.html#components
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