Inquiry Driven Learning
(IDL) is a student-centered educational approach emphasizing active exploration and critical thinking. This method encourages students to engage deeply with complex questions, challenges, or problems through sustained investigation and reflection. In IDL, learners take charge of their learning process by posing questions, conducting research, and drawing conclusions based on their findings. This approach cultivates a more profound grasp of the subject and improves problem-solving and analytical thinking skills. IDL integrates active and inquiry-based learning elements, creating a dynamic environment where students are motivated to discover and apply knowledge meaningfully.
What does Inquiry-Driven Learning look like in the classroom?
Inquiry-Driven Learning, particularly in Preprimary and Primary classes, transforms traditional education by moving beyond rote memorization and passive reception of facts. Instead, it places children's natural curiosity and questions at the center of the learning process. Teachers in this model act as facilitators, guiding students through a journey of exploration and investigation. They observe and listen to understand each child's interests and ideas, using these insights to scaffold learning and design authentic, hands-on experiences.
Classrooms become vibrant spaces where students engage in collaborative projects, exploring topics of interest through group work and shared inquiry. This approach fosters deep, meaningful engagement as students are encouraged to explore, experiment, and take risks in their learning. The environment—both within the classroom and beyond, including the playground and natural spaces—supports this inquiry process, providing rich, responsive settings for discovery.
Teachers document and reflect on children's learning journeys, using this documentation to enrich the educational experience. By embedding thinking routines into daily activities, students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative skills. Inquiry-Driven Learning thus transforms the classroom into a dynamic, student-centered environment where curiosity drives exploration, and learning is an active, collaborative, and deeply engaging process.
