Importance of inquiry-based learning in early years education
Inquiry-based learning in the early years of education makes it very rewarding. It builds a solid foundation on which your kid will pursue their further studies and conduct themselves in their personal and professional lives. Hence, kids grow up with the attitude of knowing things as it is by asking questions and clarifying doubts.
This instils confidence in your kids to seek answers to their questions. When they find the answers, it gives them a sense of fulfillment, which may not be obtained in rote learning. Rather, kids get an opportunity to think and go beyond what lies in front of them.
This form of learning was developed in the 60s as part of efforts to enhance the quality of learning.
Four steps involved in inquiry-based learning
- Firstly, kids either create their own questions or get one.
- Secondly, they research the question in class and even seek guidance on the direction to go ahead.
- Thirdly, once they find a path to solve their question and thereafter the solution, they present it.
- Finally, kids get encouragement to reflect on the process they adopted to arrive at their solutions.
Thus, this breaks the monotony of a usual theory class, which may or may not interest kids.
Four types of inquiry-based learning
- Open-inquiry learning: Here, your kid gets support to frame an original question from their own experiences and knowledge. Following this, they have to work towards solving it using their own path and arrive at solutions.
- Guided-inquiry learning: Here, your kid’s mentor will give them a question and ask them to find solutions by investigating in groups.
- Structured inquiry learning: Kids are given an open-ended question along with an investigation method. From this, they have to form an evidence-based solution.
- Confirmation-inquiry learning: This is quite an interesting method in which your kid will get the question, the solution and the method to arrive at the solution. They have to reconstruct the method used to get the solution and confirm the same.
Benefits of inquiry-based learning
There is no doubt that inquiry-based learning benefits your kid.
- Learning becomes very rewarding: It will be very encouraging for your kid to seek out answers on their own, and hence, they learn the process, feeling a sense of satisfaction in the end.
- Reinforces the academic lessons: Inquiry-based learning boosts your kid’s theoretical knowledge with an understanding of the need for it. It helps your kid understand and retain their theoretical knowledge better without the need for any rote learning. They’ll better grasp the problem, its solution path and the effectiveness of the solution in resolving the problem.
- Boosts self-learning: Kids build a sense of confidence and trust in themselves, and they engage in self-learning. They get the tools and methods to solve complex problems by breaking them down into smaller manageable parts. This will help them in their future life, too.
Hence, inquiry-based learning acts as a catalyst for your kid’s successful future. It equips them to deal with any sort of situation wherever they go.
Johnson Grammar School, Kokapet, is the leading international school in Hyderabad. If you’re looking forward to awarding your kid with a fulfilling future, you’re most welcome to join our family.
