The components of inquiry based learning were discussed in this article and the main points are the importance of a hands on approach by allowing the learner to discover concepts through their own trial and error. The article also discussed the role of the teacher, not as distributors of information but have to act as facilitators that guide learners. Another important point was to make concepts relevant and interrelate to other aspects of life. All of these were more examples of inquiry based learning and I agree that educators should empower their learners by facilitating dialogue that allows for learner-stemmed revelations with some instruction.
-"tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, involve me and I understand." -discourages natural process of inquiry -memorizing facts/info is not an important skill in todays society -generating and transmitting the fund of knowledge -experts have in-depth knowledge of their fields -knowledge is not just a set of facts -students should not be focused only on content as the ultimate outcome of learning -inquiry in education should be about a greater understanding of the world in which they live, learn, communicate and work -traditional approach based on mastery of content -inquiry classrooms are open systems where students are encouraged to search and make use of resources beyond the classroom and school -can also be done in lectures, not just in lab or group work -thinking what vs thinking how -students learn how to continue learning -students who actively make observations, collect, alanyze and synthesize information, and draw conclusions are developing useful problem solving skills -inquiry is a key tool for learning in constructivism
I notice a lot while im doing my observations that teachers say, "yes this will be on the test" or "you will need to know this for the regents". It seems to me that almost every teacher is teaching to the test. I love the idea of inquiry based learning and I would also love to see it being done first hand. Personally, I wouldn't know even begin to write a lesson like that. Im sure that it would take a long time and countless mistakes to make the perfect inquiry based lesson. But at times I worry with all of the stress put on the shoulders of teacehers, will we be able to do these kinds of lessons without objection from our administration? Everyone is so worried about test scores and student evaluations that a new teacher might be shyed away from taking a risk like this. In a perfect world inquiry based learning would be ideal but I don't know how I would go about using this teaching style.
• Involvement that leads to understanding • Individuals attempt to convert information and date into useful knowledge • Seeking appropriate resolutions to questions and issues • ** COMMUNICATION** • Preparation for life long learning • Learning things rather than learning about things
Inquiry based learning is a way of teaching in which teachers guide the students to learn how to think critically and critique themselves rather than just memorizing a certain definition or formula. I feel that inquiry based learning has more of a creative process to it because it get the students involved rather than the students only participating once in a while and the teacher lecturing all day. Do I feel inquiry based learning should be more emphasized in the classroom? Of course, however some teachers may have a hard time thinking of ways to make the students more involved and find it easier to lecture what the curriculum states rather then going "out of their way" to think of a more creative, student based lesson.
In an education system so deep in traditional, lecture and notes based teaching, it is very difficult for many to grasp the importance and need for inquiry based learning. Even when I first encountered the topic, I was skeptical. I thought, “All of my teachers just lectured and made me copy notes all these years and I turned out fine, so why change?” But I think the real question is, did I really turn out “fine.” I think my eagerness to learn helped me drive towards learning, despite the conditions I was learning in. I think given the choice of inquiry-based learning as a high school student, even now, I would choose inquiry every time. An important point this article made is that inquiry is inherent in us as humans. As babies we are always questioning, investigating, and experiencing, and this is how we learn concepts we take with us through life, like walking and talking. Why should learning a school subject be any different? If we really want to retain information, we need to experience it for ourselves. A great quote I read in this document is as follows: “For educators, inquiry implies emphasis on the development of inquiry skills and the nurturing of inquiring attitudes or habits of mind that will enable individuals to continue the quest for knowledge throughout life.” As a teacher I don’t want to just teach my students about biology, I want them to retain big ideas that can apply in real life. I think inquiry based learning is perfect for the changing world. On the whole, students have much more liberty at home than they used to (whether parents like this or not). I believe having an open learning environment in school will help students to feel more relaxed and ready to accept new information. I think it is important to look at what is best for students, not what is easiest for teachers.
The only skill most schools are teaching is memorization. Inquiry-based learning develops the skill of information processing. Students begin to understand “conceptual framework” and develop “nurtured habits of mind”.
“Thinking WHAT as opposed to thinking HOW.” The idea of thinking how is what sparks the interest into thinking what. Something I have continuously heard is “teachers need to make class more interesting”. The content is not the boring part; it is how it is presented and obtained. The article give a great example of not just teaching students the different layers of the earth buh how we know what they are. Giving the students the skill to understand how allows them to interpret information for the rest of their lives.
School has always been a place seen to help individuals prepare for the work force. Most adults would agree that a better job is not one where you just memorize and repeat information but that which you must actually think and process that information. This is what has moved the world to where it is today; by minds that seek truth, information, and knowledge.
“We propose that the attributes experts use to generate new knowledge are very similar to the attributes essential for the effective transmission of knowledge within the learner's environment -- the essentials of effective inquiry learning.” This part of the article struck a chord with me. I never really thought of inquiry like this. Having the student practice this type of thinking will promote better thinks and more creative thinkers. This way when they become the "expert" they will be familar with this idea of think and come up with better ideas.
“In traditional schools, students learn not to ask too many questions, instead to listen and repeat the expected answers.” This quote was what stood out to me first when I started reading because when I was in high school I don’t remember being in this kind of setting. I don’t know if the teaching styles between a regular math class and an honors math class are completely different, (I assume that they are), but in my classes I was able to ask questions and my teacher would give me an answer. I remember being an ambitious student sitting in math class always raising my hand to participate and always helping out my fellow classmates. This reform of the classroom through inquiry based learning is something I feel was already in the classroom based on my high school learning experiences.
The components of inquiry based learning were discussed in this article and the main points are the importance of a hands on approach by allowing the learner to discover concepts through their own trial and error. The article also discussed the role of the teacher, not as distributors of information but have to act as facilitators that guide learners. Another important point was to make concepts relevant and interrelate to other aspects of life. All of these were more examples of inquiry based learning and I agree that educators should empower their learners by facilitating dialogue that allows for learner-stemmed revelations with some instruction.
ReplyDeleteInquiry Based Learning
ReplyDelete-"tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, involve me and I understand."
-discourages natural process of inquiry
-memorizing facts/info is not an important skill in todays society
-generating and transmitting the fund of knowledge
-experts have in-depth knowledge of their fields
-knowledge is not just a set of facts
-students should not be focused only on content as the ultimate outcome of learning
-inquiry in education should be about a greater understanding of the world in which they live, learn, communicate and work
-traditional approach based on mastery of content
-inquiry classrooms are open systems where students are encouraged to search and make use of resources beyond the classroom and school
-can also be done in lectures, not just in lab or group work
-thinking what vs thinking how
-students learn how to continue learning
-students who actively make observations, collect, alanyze and synthesize information, and draw conclusions are developing useful problem solving skills
-inquiry is a key tool for learning in constructivism
I notice a lot while im doing my observations that teachers say, "yes this will be on the test" or "you will need to know this for the regents". It seems to me that almost every teacher is teaching to the test. I love the idea of inquiry based learning and I would also love to see it being done first hand. Personally, I wouldn't know even begin to write a lesson like that. Im sure that it would take a long time and countless mistakes to make the perfect inquiry based lesson. But at times I worry with all of the stress put on the shoulders of teacehers, will we be able to do these kinds of lessons without objection from our administration? Everyone is so worried about test scores and student evaluations that a new teacher might be shyed away from taking a risk like this. In a perfect world inquiry based learning would be ideal but I don't know how I would go about using this teaching style.
• Involvement that leads to understanding
ReplyDelete• Individuals attempt to convert information and date into useful knowledge
• Seeking appropriate resolutions to questions and issues
• ** COMMUNICATION**
• Preparation for life long learning
• Learning things rather than learning about things
Inquiry based learning is a way of teaching in which teachers guide the students to learn how to think critically and critique themselves rather than just memorizing a certain definition or formula. I feel that inquiry based learning has more of a creative process to it because it get the students involved rather than the students only participating once in a while and the teacher lecturing all day. Do I feel inquiry based learning should be more emphasized in the classroom? Of course, however some teachers may have a hard time thinking of ways to make the students more involved and find it easier to lecture what the curriculum states rather then going "out of their way" to think of a more creative, student based lesson.
In an education system so deep in traditional, lecture and notes based teaching, it is very difficult for many to grasp the importance and need for inquiry based learning. Even when I first encountered the topic, I was skeptical. I thought, “All of my teachers just lectured and made me copy notes all these years and I turned out fine, so why change?” But I think the real question is, did I really turn out “fine.” I think my eagerness to learn helped me drive towards learning, despite the conditions I was learning in. I think given the choice of inquiry-based learning as a high school student, even now, I would choose inquiry every time.
ReplyDeleteAn important point this article made is that inquiry is inherent in us as humans. As babies we are always questioning, investigating, and experiencing, and this is how we learn concepts we take with us through life, like walking and talking. Why should learning a school subject be any different? If we really want to retain information, we need to experience it for ourselves. A great quote I read in this document is as follows: “For educators, inquiry implies emphasis on the development of inquiry skills and the nurturing of inquiring attitudes or habits of mind that will enable individuals to continue the quest for knowledge throughout life.” As a teacher I don’t want to just teach my students about biology, I want them to retain big ideas that can apply in real life.
I think inquiry based learning is perfect for the changing world. On the whole, students have much more liberty at home than they used to (whether parents like this or not). I believe having an open learning environment in school will help students to feel more relaxed and ready to accept new information. I think it is important to look at what is best for students, not what is easiest for teachers.
The only skill most schools are teaching is memorization. Inquiry-based learning develops the skill of information processing. Students begin to understand “conceptual framework” and develop “nurtured habits of mind”.
ReplyDelete“Thinking WHAT as opposed to thinking HOW.” The idea of thinking how is what sparks the interest into thinking what. Something I have continuously heard is “teachers need to make class more interesting”. The content is not the boring part; it is how it is presented and obtained. The article give a great example of not just teaching students the different layers of the earth buh how we know what they are. Giving the students the skill to understand how allows them to interpret information for the rest of their lives.
School has always been a place seen to help individuals prepare for the work force. Most adults would agree that a better job is not one where you just memorize and repeat information but that which you must actually think and process that information. This is what has moved the world to where it is today; by minds that seek truth, information, and knowledge.
You reviewed the points very well, and your interpretation is exactly what all teachers need to exercise in your class.
Delete“We propose that the attributes experts use to generate new knowledge are very similar to the attributes essential for the effective transmission of knowledge within the learner's environment -- the essentials of effective inquiry learning.”
ReplyDeleteThis part of the article struck a chord with me. I never really thought of inquiry like this. Having the student practice this type of thinking will promote better thinks and more creative thinkers. This way when they become the "expert" they will be familar with this idea of think and come up with better ideas.
Thirteen.org
ReplyDelete“In traditional schools, students learn not to ask too many questions, instead to listen and repeat the expected answers.”
This quote was what stood out to me first when I started reading because when I was in high school I don’t remember being in this kind of setting. I don’t know if the teaching styles between a regular math class and an honors math class are completely different, (I assume that they are), but in my classes I was able to ask questions and my teacher would give me an answer. I remember being an ambitious student sitting in math class always raising my hand to participate and always helping out my fellow classmates. This reform of the classroom through inquiry based learning is something I feel was already in the classroom based on my high school learning experiences.