In the pervious reflection I was talking about student centered learning, that the student plays the essential role to construct the knowledge and teacher facilitate the student learning.
The student Centered learning can be applied in different ways as shown in the diagram below. In this report I will talk about the Inquired-based learning.
Inquiry-based learning is the process to gather information and learning from questioning rather than having the students memories by having students participate to develop inquiry skills and develop understanding.
In my classroom, I used this technique by encourage my student to ask questions, or by using open-ended questions to encourage them to search and new reading materials.
How is Inquiry-based Learning Different from the Traditional Approach?
The Traditional education system was discourages students higher thinking, the student will not ask many questions and that may stay with him even if he move to higher levels, instead of asking repeat answers. In that approach the teacher play a role in deliver knowledge and the student receive it.
Traditional approach transfer knowledge from teacher to student
An old adage states:"Tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, involve me and I understand", the enquiry-based learning is applying involvement that leads to understanding but the traditional leads the students forget what they learned.
The traditional learning limited on what student know while inquiry-based learning more comprehensive it focuses on what student know and how they come to know.
Traditional classroom practices vs. inquiry-based learning classrooms for students and teachers (Reference: http://courseweb.lis.illinois.edu/~dafagan2/LIS506LEB/best_practices/traditional_vs_IL.shtml):
Students
Traditional Approach | Inquiry-based Approach |
Listen-to-learn method of learning | Learning is question-oriented with real and authentic goals |
Little interaction, individual work | Peer interaction, team work |
Assessments in the form of tests and term papers | Shared end product with an audience |
Limited knowledge imparted by the teacher | Ability to dig deeper into a topic |
Mastery of content | Development of skills and questioning along with mastery of content |
Receivers of information | Pursuers of information |
Mastery of content | Development of habits of the mind |
Students are passive recipients of knowledge | Students are actively involved in learning and construction of knowledge |
Moderate to low interest | High interest |
Textbook dictated learning | Student focused learning |
Evaluation at the end | Ongoing assessment |
Teachers
Traditional Approach | Inquiry-based Approach |
Talks and lectures | Collaborative teamwork and discourse |
Lesson plans | Facilitated learning plans |
Teacher centered | Student centered |
Teachers are teachers | Students and teachers are teachers and facilitators |
Standard blocks of classroom time i.e. 1 hour blocks | Time is of prime importance but timing is not i.e. periods lasting more than 1 hour |
Objectives common to entire class | Set objectives for individual students |
Teach students things | Students learn about things |
Teacher constructs learning | Students involved in construction of learning |
Assessment determined on mastery of skills | Assessment determined by progress of learning skills and content understanding |
Rigid | Flexible |
Textbook driven | Standards-driven/student negotiated |
Limited resources | Expansive use of resources in and out of the classroom |
Technology lessons to learn about technology | Technology used as a tool |
Benefit:
The inquiry-based Learning approach can support student learning in many ways because the students have preconceive ideas about some subjects that allow them to build on what they know and are interested in by asking them self some questions and try to find the answers .
Also, inquiry-based learning in classroom Leads students to be more motivated and participated which develop students information literacy and Encourage higher thinking skills and self-direction which will lead them to become better learners and to be life-long learners and its give students the opportunity to teach and learn from each other.
In addition, the knowledge will not lost from the student easy, the results in better long term retention of information and the student deeper understanding the subjects.
And we can benefit from this approach as a teacher it will motivate us to increase our knowledge and to improve our work quality and to feel more satisfy.
Collaboration:
The students must involve effectively in the community around them to collaborate effectively and take opportunity to be active in inquiry-based learning. Successful collaboration include efforts from many people: administrators, teachers, information specialists, support staff, family members, community organizations, and the students themselves.
Masooma Yusuf
