Inquiry Based Learning: Step Three--Investigation

"Play is the highest form of research."

~Albert Einstein

In step two of the inquiry based learning process (see my last post), students generated questions about a chosen topic of inquiry.  The stage has been set, and the next step is to engage in a variety of activities that will help them find answers to the questions they generated.

The teacher's role in this step is to coordinate the activities which will lead the students to the answers they are seeking. This may include going on a field-site visit, asking questions of guest experts, conducting experiments, watching videos, observing natural phenomena, and documenting what they learn through drawing, writing, and discussion as a group.  It is important to include as many hands-on, play based experiences as possible, since research shows this is how young children learn best.

As the students find answers to their questions, these answers can be added to the web that was generated in step two.  It is especially helpful if the web is ever present, such as on the whiteboard, where students and teachers can refer to it regularly. You may find that new questions present themselves and lead the investigation in another direction.  Follow the lead of your students, as this is the true nature of student led inquiry.

It is important to document what the students are learning and to post that documentation in a central location so the teachers and students can refer to it and use it as a reminder of what they have learned.  Children love to see their own work and thinking displayed, and it is a great way to share their learning with other people who visit the classroom. Representation and documentation will be discussed more in my next blog post.