Working Inquiry Based Instruction into the classroom

What better way is there to learn than figuring out the problem and answering your own questions? For me, there is no better way! This is exactly what Inquiry-Based Instruction does. Many people may think that the teacher has an easy job whenever they teach using Inquiry Based Instruction, but it is actually the very opposite! It tends to be challenging to set up the essential questions that get the student engaged and thriving to learn more!

To make the process easier to follow, there are 5 steps: 

1.Question

2.Investigate 

3.Use evidence to describe, explain, and predict

4. Connect evidence to knowledge

5.Share findings

Process is from: National Academy of
Sciences (1995). 

As you can see, there is very little teacher involvement after the essential question is asked. Teachers are used to keep the learning process alive and to answer questions that the students may have, not give them the correct answer! Answering students question with question can be a good method to not necessarily give them help, but to re route their minds back to the initial question! 

I can not wait to start learning more about how to include Inquiry Based Instruction in my future class! I do not ever want to be stuck on teaching in one specific way, and that way only! That would not only be boring for myself, but also my students! I want my students to come in to class thinking, "I wonder what he is going to have us do today, it is always something different"! 

Thanks For Reading,

Mike