Student-centred, guided inquiry means that instead of the teacher being the provider of knowledge or facts to the students, the teacher and students work together to find the knowledge or facts needed to solve a problem or question.
Across the world there has been a tremendous growth in schools offering a new pedagogy. They are moving from traditional teacher-led, chalk and talk sessions with an exam at the end, to student-centered inquiry-based units with a variety of assessments. This is also happening in India as the past ten years has seen a surge in new international schools which feature curriculums like the International Baccalaureate and others. But for parents it can be quite confusing. Even if they decide to enrol their child in one of the new schools, they have questions about how to best help their child, and if tuitions are necessary.
Student-centred, guided inquiry means that instead of the teacher being the provider of knowledge or facts to the students, the teacher and students work together to find the knowledge or facts needed to solve a problem or question. For example, a Class 3 lesson on how animals adapt to their environment, a teacher would ask: “Why do you think camels have such wide feet?” Students would then be shown pictures of a camel (or even better a live camel) and discuss the reasons. The teacher then guides the discussion to the idea that the camels’ wide feet are perfect for walking in their natural environment which is mostly sand. The lessons continue in a similar vein, until the whole class arrives at the conclusion that animals adapt to the environment in which they live.
This method of teaching has several advantages. First and foremost is student engagement. No matter how good a teacher is, it is always interesting to students to be actively involved in discussions and discovery than to be told facts and instructed to memorise them. This hands-on learning also helps a student retain the information longer, since they ‘discovered’ it themselves.
Secondly, students become adept at researching and evaluating knowledge for a specific purpose, rather than for an exam. If you talk to Human Resource experts, this is a necessary skill for today’s workplace. Knowledge and facts are at our fingertips, to be successful in any field, a person needs to be skilled at using knowledge and facts for the particular project or product they are working on.
Third, it encourages students to work collaboratively. Again, a necessary skill for the modern workplace. Companies like Apple and Google are famous for their open-plan workspaces so that employees can work together on projects. Guided inquiry instruction is just the same. Students learn to take on the different roles needed to collaborate successfully on a project. They learn to work together rather than compete with each other.
Lastly, it allows students to make their learning visible in a variety of ways. A guided inquiry unit ends with the student showing what they have learned. Students might make a presentation, or present a skit, or they may make a poster demonstrating what they have learned. This improves their communication skills. They learn how to make an effective presentation of their learning.
The traditional teacher-led classroom was effective for preparing students to be employed in the industrial age workplace. Guided inquiry prepares students to be successful in the modern information age workplace.
The writer is Head of School, Mount Litera School International, Mumbai.
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