Inquiry Based Learning

In my job interview for Wilton, the Superintendent asked me about the use of inquiry-based learning in my classroom. At the time I honestly did not have much to say, however, after a year of teaching, I have become much more aware of this practice in the classroom.

In this new information age, schools should be moving away from the memorization of raw facts. Rather, we should be guiding the students to ask questions about our subjects. As a social studies teacher, I use inquiry based learning in my classroom. Instead of memorizing 'facts' about history, the students are required to ask questions about historical events. Through a complex process of synthesizing data and evaluating sources, the students use the information at hand to answer their questions in an informed and thoughtful manner.

With so much information over the Internet, it becomes essential that we teach our students these skills. Inquiry based learning helps students become critical viewers of media, as they are taught to evaluate various sources of information. In this process, students become active learners who can use these skills for life-long learning.