Double Entry Journal #7

What are some challenges to inquiry approaches to learning?

 

The main challenge when it comes to inquiry approaches to learning is that when it comes time for statewide or standardized testing, many students are not as prepared as expected. Inquiry-based learning is described as a "student-centered, active learning approach focusing on question, critical thinking, and problem-solving." This approach to learning is what many students crave when walking into a classroom. Inquiry based learning allows students to use concepts that they are interested in and things that are occuring around them in the real world to help them learn new material. However, there are many critics that believe that inquiry based learning does not properly prepare students for the necessary testing that they must pass. Many administrators and parents are against inquiry based learning simply because of this reason.


References

Barron, B., & Darling-Hammond, L. (1991). Teaching for meaningful learning. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/edutopia-teaching-for-meaningful-learning.pdf

 

 Concept to classroom. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/inquiry/explor_sub1.html