Inquiry-based learning
Inquiry-based learning (IBL) involves students exploring questions, problems, or phenomena through investigation and discovery. Guided by teachers, students construct explanations and develop critical thinking by asking questions, doing research and conducting investigations.
Initially developed by
US philosopher John Dewey, in early 1900s.
Effectiveness
This 2017 McKinsey research found that students performed best in PISA assessments, 26 points above the baseline, when students had learnt with a combination of Inquiry-Based Learning and Direct Instruction.
Further reading
How Students Learn: Science in the Classroom, by the US National Research Council.
Where you'll find it in Stile
Balanced alongside an explicit teaching approach. Stile units incorporate Inquiry-based approaches through Questions Boards, hands-on labs, investigations and Engineering Challenges.
Examples within Stile
Understanding via observation
Students explore types of energy by making observations of objects in a mystery box. This lesson is purposefully placed before an explicit teaching lesson on types of energy to spark curiosity and create cognitive dissonance before supporting students to understand their observations.
Energy mystery box lesson
in the Energy unit
in the Energy unit
Investigating problems
Students investigate data collected from multiple lakes to determine the water quality.
Water quality and potability lesson
in the Hydrosphere unit
in the Hydrosphere unit
Solving mysteries through research
Students progressively build their understanding through investigations and research, culminating in the ability to classify a mystery gem.
Minerals lesson
in the Active Earth unit
in the Active Earth unit
Explore our core science curriculum
