George Lucas Educational Foundation

Inquiry-Based Learning

Instead of just presenting the facts, use questions, problems, and scenarios to help students learn through their own agency and investigation.

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  • Exploring Before Explaining Sparks Learning

    New elementary science teachers can build student engagement and enhance learning by using the explore-before-explain approach.
    Patrick Brown
    287
  • Using Inquiry to Create Inspiring Field Trips

    When students approach a field trip with the goal of answering their own questions, they get to be in charge of what they learn
  • A young girl is smiling, standing at the front of the class and reading, and her teacher and peers are clapping for her.

    What the Heck Is Inquiry-Based Learning?

    Teachers use inquiry-based learning to combat the “dunno” -- a chronic problem in student engagement. Check out these four steps for creating inquiry-based curriculum.
    26.7k
  • Direct Instruction or Inquiry-Based Learning? 

    It’s not either/or: Rather than choosing direct instruction or inquiry-based learning, educators strategically use both methods.
    927
  • How to Use the 5E Model in Your Science Classroom

    An inquiry-focused method gives students a way to connect scientific ideas to their experiences and apply their learning.
    3.2k
  • Inquiry-Based Tasks in Social Studies

    Assignments that are bigger than a lesson and smaller than a unit are a good way to experiment with inquiry-based learning.
    8.5k
  • Creating Challenging Learning Experiences

    When teachers leverage inquiry, students use their critical thinking skills to examine multiple perspectives and find ways to improve our world.
    240
  • Using Mathematical Modeling to Get Real With Students

    Unlike canned word problems, mathematical modeling plunges students into the messy complexities of real-world problem solving.
    402
  • Getting First Graders Started With Research

    Teaching academically honest research skills helps first graders learn how to collect, organize, and interpret information.
    404
  • Resources and Downloads to Facilitate Inquiry-Based Learning

    Find information, strategies, protocols, and tools to promote curiosity and engage students in asking questions, thinking critically, and solving problems.
    7.2k
  • Inquiry and the Research Process

    Tips for ensuring that your students’ research fosters genuine inquiry.
    5.4k
  • Cultivating Curiosity Among Older Students

    Small, daily shifts in the way middle and high school teachers ask questions can boost student engagement.
    673
  • Boosting Students’ Literacy Skills With Help From the School Librarian

    Teachers in every content area can build partnerships with the school librarian to support students’ academic literacy across the curriculum.
    310
  • Embracing Inquiry-Based Instruction

    A veteran teacher shares the frustrations and challenges of this student-centered teaching model—and why she finds it so powerful.
    4.4k

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George Lucas Educational Foundation

Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.
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