Weekly Writing #9

Inquiry Based Instruction

Teaching in a way that reaches all of the students is important but can be really challenging. One method of teaching that can reach a lot of students in a fun and effective way. I have always heard about inquiry based instruction but honestly never totally understood what it was. This week's readings really helped me to understand what inquiry based instruction was and also gave me some great ideas on how I can implement it in my future classroom.

Inquiry based instruction is a teaching method that combines the interest and curiosity of the students with the scientific method. It also helps to enhance the development of critical thinking skills. Students are able to identify a problem and observe, formulate questions and apply new information to gain a better understanding. 

Inquiry based instruction involves five activities that students engage in using the scientific method. 

1. Learner engages in scientifically oriented questions

2. Learner gives priority to evidence in responding to questions

3. Learner formulates explanations from evidence

4. Learner connects explanations to scientific knowledge

5. Learner communicates and justifies explanations

This method of instruction is great for agriculture education because we play a vital role in the integration of science, math, reading and writing in our classrooms. When students are active in the inquiry based instruction they are able to utilize skills from these many other areas. Inquiry based learning also requires students to use their hands and minds which allows them to create their own understanding. This adds to the learning by doing method of agriculture education. 

In order to effectively implement inquiry based instruction in the classroom, teachers should use a six step cycle shown below. 

"The art & science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge."

-Thomas Berger