Inquiry+Definitions

=INQUIRY DEFINITIONS=

The Inquiry Learning model takes advantage of students’ natural curiosity. It requires well-developed questioning skills. It helps students to develop strategies and processes for collecting and evaluating information (information literacy). Students immerse themselves in the topic, context, or situation they are studying. They investigate the location, historical background, current situation, and problems. They become mini-experts on the topic (Knowledge Attack) before beginning the inquiry process (Inquiry Learning Model). In this inquiry process students form a question that becomes the focus of their investigation. They form subsidiary questions, form hypotheses, plan and carry out their research, come to some conclusions, and decide how they could make change happen (Barbara Woods, Viscount School Cluster, 2001).

Inquiry-based learning is a **constuctivist** approach, in which students have **ownership** of their learning. It starts with **exploration** and **questioning** and leads to investigation into a **worthy question, issue, problem or idea**. It involves asking **questions, gathering** and **analysing information, generating solutions, making decisions, justifying conclusions** and t**aking action** ([|http://www.inquiringmind.co.nz/WhatIsInquiry.htm).]

Through the process of inquiry, individuals construct much of their understanding of the natural and human-designed worlds. ([|http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/inquiry/).]