Inquiry-Based Learning: The 3-Step Quickstart Guide

(Content adapted from the original post by Mannu Sikka on Defined)

The Core Problem

In traditional "sit and get" instruction, students struggle with long-lasting engagement, often leading to disengagement and burnout for both students and teachers. Learning doesn't stick unless students feel a strong sense of ownership over their work.

The High-Impact Strategy

Embrace Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL). IBL shifts the teacher's role to that of a facilitator, placing students in the driver's seat of their own learning journey. This engages students in the purest form of discovery, making learning more meaningful and long-lasting.

The 3 Actionable Steps to Launch Inquiry

Use these three essential components to embed IBL into your next unit immediately and simply:

Step 1: Start with the Question

• Action: Do not start with the answer or the lesson; always pose an essential question or a problem first.

• Result: This models for students that discovery and innovation arise naturally when questions arise.

Step 2: Create Authentic Connections

• Action: When planning a new unit, look for opportunities to embed the inquiry process, allowing students to research resources and test ideas.

• Result: When students feel ownership and connection to the content, new learning sticks best.

Step 3: Make Them Defend It

• Action: Design an opportunity for students to share and defend the results of their inquiry project. Keep the sharing method simple (e.g., presentation to peers, Zoom, or SeeSaw).

• Result: Schoolwork becomes more meaningful when it’s not done only for the teacher or the test, which solidifies learning.

PAL Studio Value

Implementing these 3 steps immediately transforms instruction from a "sit and get" model to a student-centered discovery process, increasing engagement and ownership without requiring an entirely new curriculum.