Inquiry Approach – Overview

When it comes to learning, inquiry places the responsibility on the learner to feel motivated to understand the topic at hand. According to Queen’s University (n.d.), inquiry-based learning is defined as “an array of classroom practices that promote student learning through guided and, increasingly, independent investigation of complex questions and problems, often for which there is no single answer.” A key component in inquiry-based learning is the student’s ability to ask questions, identify relevant materials, determine how to use those materials to answer questions, and share progress with others (students, teacher, etc.)

Queen’s University (n.d.) identifies four elements that are central to the idea of inquiry-based learning: inquire (ask questions and discuss topic to improve base understanding), research and reflect (find relevant sources on the topic), evaluate (verify sources for accuracy and reliability), and construct (modify information into something of substance).

If a student follows up with the four elements of inquiry-based learning, they will improve their inquiry and learning skills over time. Not only will they improve their knowledge and expertise on the topic at hand, but they will also: improve their ability to ask the right questions, enhance their ability to research any given topic for relevant information, improve their ability to vett information, and improve their ability to communicate information (either through written or verbal means).

Alignment With Topic

In the context of our first assignment, Inquiry-based learning is aligned to our chosen topic, “Alzheimer’s Disease.” The reason for that is due to the structure of our Learning Design Blueprint. When we completed the assignment, we made available a variety of learning methods for prospective students. These methods exist to guide the students to a deeper understanding of the material, and include online articles, several health organizations, and multiple examinations to test learning competency on the topic. Overall, Inquiry-based learning is about asking questions, then answering those same questions, and our blueprint provides learning with the ability to do just that.

References

Inquiry-Based Learning. (n.d.). Queen’s University: Centre for Teaching and Learning. https://www.queensu.ca/ctl/resources/instructional-strategies/inquiry-based-learning