“No man really becomes a fool until he stops asking questions.”
-Charles P. Steinmetz
Inquiry based learning is the process of the development of a child through
high level questioning, exploration, and real-life experience. It was initially
introduced in the works of American philosopher John Dewey, amongst others
such as Piaget, Vygotsky, and Freire.
The purpose of such a model of learning is to augment the pupil’s ability to
think creatively and originally. It gives the learner a sense of novelty. In the
words of Oscar Wilde, “be yourself, everyone else is already taken.”
There are many different approaches to this method of learning. Some of the
most common ways are holding field trips, group discussions and classroom
debates. Another interesting tactic is asking open ended questions. In doing so,
we trigger a curiosity in the students’ brains, pushing them to think deeper
than the surface and even respond with questions of their own. By assigning
research work to students, teachers can help in developing their ability to
come up with original and insightful questions.
Students must possess the ability to make real life connections and relate what
they learn to aspects of their own lives as well as the events occurring around
them. They can do this only by showing involvement in these affairs in some
form or the other.
Simply knowing the information given in books will not help a person in solving
real world problems. Unless this knowledge is applied in practical life, it is
basically as good as the “parks and recreation department” without Leslie
Knope. As educators, teachers must not teach children what to think; rather they
should model how they think.
Providing solutions to students on a silver platter without them having to use
their own problem-solving skills not only robs them of the opportunity to be
original, but it also harms their ability to handle different situations that they
will encounter throughout their lifetime. By raising questions and getting their hands dirty,
students essentially develop a skill set unique to their own strengths and interests.
Not only does participating in questioning and answering make information
easier to retain, but it also instills in learners a healthier mindset by proving
how rewarding and fulfilling learning can be. When one asks a question, their pre-frontal
cortex becomes activated, enhancing the brain’s potential for the intake of new
information and releasing chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine which are
associated with pleasure and reward.
Research has shown that asking questions, actively listening to the responses
and being more engaged in the conversation makes one more empathetic
resulting in more positive social interactions. When asked, students have even
expressed noticeable improvements in their thought processing skills as a
result of such interactions.
Out of the plethora of methods through which students can learn, this one can
cater to the diversity of learning styles that exist in a classroom.
Knowing what to ask is just as important as knowing how to answer it.
By Nishtha Dhar SCMS Pune
2024-28
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