Inquiry learning can be integrated into every subject area, social studies in particular. Inquiry based learning teaches students to take charge of their learning by allowing them to explore the world and ask questions which, in turn, leads to more questions and more learning. Zahra’s chosen article, Computer Simulations: Technological Advances in Inquiry Learning, stresses that technology-based inquiry learning without guidance can hinder learning. The author of the article states that without direction, students have trouble making predictions, interpreting data and in some cases, arrive at the wrong conclusions completely.
This article raises a point when incorporating inquiry learning into the classroom-students still need guidance. As a teacher, I hope to offer prompts, thoughtful questions and guidelines to steer my students through their inquiry learning. Although I agree with the author of the article, I wonder if directed inquiry learning can still be considered inquiry learning. What are your thoughts?
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I agree with you that it is important that inquiry learning still be directed by the teacher. For example, you can't just tell them to use the internet without teaching them smart practices and giving them guidelines about the kind of sites they are allowed to search. Even if a teacher gives the students general guidelines for what they need to research (i.e. The Civil War), you can still make sure their learning is inquiry based by giving them the freedom to research a part of that topic that most interests them.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that there is a fine line between true inquiry learning and directed inquiry learning. As long as the teacher provides prompts that stimulate the students' though processes, and subsequently their use of technology, and not simply just tell the students what to think/look up on the internet, I think it is still true inquiry learning. Research papers are a good way to utilize technology and inquiry learning because the students HAVE to search for their own knowledge. Standing up in the front of the room and lecturing the students and then telling them exactly what websites to look up is NOT inquiry learning! Using technology doesn't automatically mean that inquiry learning is taking place.
ReplyDeleteWhen answering this question, I think it is critical to remember the actual qualities that define inquiry learning. As we saw in class on the Prezi site, meaningful learning is authentic, intentional, constructive, cooperative, and most importantly, active. To me, active learning is not necessarily going out and searching for the information entirely by yourself, but actively pursuing information with a genuine interest. I think some direction is acceptable from teachers until it becomes students merely copying information off a website onto a worksheet.
ReplyDeleteI think the only way to have true inquiry learning is if there is some direction. If there is no direction and no curricular goal to meet, then you are doing your a students a grave disservice and handing them tools without the proper instruction on how to use them. This will leave them lost and confused. In order to ensure that your students will truly benefit from inquiry learning, you, as the teacher, need to participate in their learning as a facilitator and guide. You are not necessarily giving them the answers and showing them specifically what to look for, you are simply helping them create a better foundation. Once this is created, they'll have the skills neccessary to proceed further into the learning process and find new ideas and develop new skills that they can then bring back and share the with rest of the class. It's a process that will prove to be mutually beneficial for all individuals involved.
ReplyDeleteI do not see a problem with setting some guidelines for student inquiry. As long as the restrictions are not to defined, the students should have plenty of opportunities to do their own thing. It would be far more damaging to have students learn something that is incorrect, than just giving them some helpful direction to narrow their focus. For example if your topic was the civil war then you could direct separate groups of students into different aspects of the conflict, such as politics, military, and battle field health care. You would not be handcuffing them but still giving them a focus.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely think that guided inquiry learning can still be considered inquiry learning. Just like any other form of learning, having a teacher shouldn't take away from the fact that one is learning. It would just reduce some of the unnecessary trial and error, honing the students inquiry skills more quickly.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that guided inquiry learning is still inquiry learning. Students benefit from guidance when exploring new or difficult concepts. If we just leave them out there to figure things out on their own, they may not figure things out at all. Our purpose as teachers isn't to tell students what the correct answers are, but to help them figure out how to find them--to guide, essentially.
ReplyDeleteI think the debate of guided inquiry learning isn't whether or no it's truly inquiry, but if it is truly learning. A student is not going to gain much if the teacher is simply directing to "google" random things and use technology with no educational value or learning objective for the students. Often time I think teachers have students utilize technology for the sake of utilizing technology, and simply forget the aspect of learning. This is when it becomes detrimental to the students of the classroom.
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