What is Inquiry-Based Thinking and Why Does it Play a Key Role in Your Child’s Development?

The education system at Mount Litera School International is structured into a research-driven, analytical, and inquiry-based model of study. Components like the Theory of Knowledge and CAS test the elements (mentioned above) of a teenager’s intellect.

At MLSI, we strongly believe that youngsters are born with an inquisitive mindset about the world around them. One of the most crucial things an educator can do is to nurture this inherent sense of curiosity in their students, build upon it, and teach their students to channelize it. If honed and developed, this can result in a generation of students that not only are aware of the world around them but are also curious about how to make the world a safer and more sustainable place.

Inquiry-based thinking places a spotlight on a student’s role in the education method and encourages them to approach an idea or topic in an active way, rather than by passively sitting and obeying an instructor’s commands or memorising the pages of a book. The fundamental goal of an inquiry-based system is for students to comprehend what they are being educated about and to interpret how a concept or function performs in a real-world situation.

The inquiry approach is also commonly coined as project-based or experiential learning. To effectively understand a topic, students are urged to explore study resources, put forth questions, and share their own ideas. The faculty teaches in such a way that it helps students implement simple to complex contexts, allowing them to explore knowledge for themselves by discovering, experiencing and discussing as they move along.

A chief characteristic of inquiry is that it can be both externally and internally motivated,  by the student. External motivation involves members of a team, the essence of the project, and feedback from teachers. Intrinsic motivations include an eagerness to learn, thirst for succeeding at any task, and inherent interest in the topic. Although the inquiry is done by the student, it is triggered and guided by the teacher. A skilled inquiry teacher will play a flexible role in the education process – from specific instruction (where the teacher has clear goals as to what he or she will teach to the students) to an inquiry approach that helps students control their learning.

To conclude, here are some clear-cut benefits of employing the inquiry-based method of learning –

• Helps nurture passion & talent
• Shows students that they have a voice and their thoughts are valued
• Fosters curiosity
• Inculcates the importance of research
• Prepares students as independent workers and thinkers