As educators of 21st century, are we really allowing our students to inquire and explore?
The world is changing rapidly. No strict adherence to any textbook can keep up with this pace. Facts can be googled, formulas memorized and definitions copied. But, thinking is what will help students make sense of it all. Thus, it is essential to redirect classroom environments toward fostering curiosity and building a culture of inquiry where questions are encouraged and exploration is celebrated and teachers create space for students to learn and reflect on what they are learning. Particularly in science classes, where inquiry ought to be the rule rather than the exception.
Here are simple steps to make science classrooms more inquiry-based:
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Start with Enquiries Prompted by Students:
Let students raise questions that direct the learning process once you introduce the subject with something visible. -
Make it Safe to Experiment and Make Errors:
Appreciate hard work and exploration. Encourage pupils to view failure as a component of learning rather than a cause of fear. -
Use the Five E's Inquiry Model:
Lessons may be organized around discovery and reflection by using the Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate phases. -
Allow Students to Conduct Their Own Research:
Present a challenge and let students plan and execute their own experiments rather than providing detailed directions.
Hence, it requires patience and effort to create an inquiry-based environment in class. We, as educators, must give up some control and trust our students to take the initiative of their learning. Doing this, would provide us with inquisitive and confident students who make significant queries, think like scientists and do not hesitate to try new things. As it is rightly said that “Science is not a collection of facts; it is a process of discovery.”
So, are we ready to let go of control and truly trust our students to lead their own learning journeys?