Open or Student Initiated Inquiry Overview
Introduction to Student Directed Inquiry
In the first module, Limited or Teacher Directed Inquiry, you were introduced to the process of inquiry teaching. The examples and steps guided you through the elements of teaching inquiry through the lens of a more teacher centered approach. Teaching inquiry is complex and takes time to perfect. One factor that must be considered is how to begin to work collaboratively with your students to support them as they begin to utilize inquiry and move them toward more student directed inquiry.
One strategy that is effective in developing inquiry skills of your students is questioning. Using questions to support and guide students through the inquiry process creates a richer and deeper learning experience.
Throughout Using Questioning to Move toward Student Directed Inquiry you can follow three sequential steps:
As you explore the examples and steps that follow, please reflect and build upon your teaching expertise by considering the following concepts:
- Identifying useful strategies that keep all students involved in an inquiry classroom.
- Building a bank or identifying the kinds of questions that best facilitate an inquiry discussion.
- Identifying barriers when implementing inquiry-oriented approaches to science instruction and learning.
