I had the pleasure of returning to Auburn City School District recently to conduct an introduction to inquiry-based teaching and learning professional staff development training for K-12 educators. When you think of inquiry what do you envision? The students are engaged, active learning, student-driven, and the teacher’s role is a facilitator versus the more traditional role of the teacher-driven classroom.

So why teach via inquiry? There is a great deal of research that supports the benefits of inquiry-based teaching and learning here are a few of the benefits.

• Preps the brain for learning.
• Cultivates skills for all areas of learning.
• Promotes curiosity.
• Deepens understanding.
• Thinking critically and solving problems.
• Creates ownership/student-driven.
• Promotes engagement.
• Enhances learning.
• Works across all disciplines.
• Creates a lifelong love of learning.

Questioning is the heart of inquiry. A teacher must strive to create a classroom culture where students are encouraged to ask questions and seek answers to their questions. As well as modeling higher-order questioning.

During the introductory training, teachers were introduced to the 3 main kinds of inquiry including structured, guided, and open-ended. Teachers worked in small groups throughout the day conducting mini math and science inquiry-based investigations. Additionally, they were introduced to a multitude of mathematic and scientific tools to incorporate within their lessons. As well as journaling and establishing questions for the group to research.

From exploring patterns and shapes in nature and in man-made designs to geometry, electric circuits, and more, it was an immersive day of inquiry. I truly enjoyed working with this cohort of educators who will spend the year further studying and exploring inquiry together, and incorporating inquiry-based teaching practices within their classrooms. Check out the following photos of inquiry in full action.