Giving Compass' Take:

• Trevor MacKenzie describes the core tenents of inquiry-based learning that is fundamental to student-centered programs.

• How can philanthropy help schools successfully transition to inquiry-based learning? What can inquiry-based learning look like in your community? 

• Learn about project-based learning. 

Whether it be project-based learning, design thinking, or genius hour, it's easy to get confused by the many education buzzwords floating about.

Inquiry-based learning is the foundation for all of these student-centered strategies -- students are asking their own questions, discovering answers and using their teachers as resources and guides. Schools and classrooms where deep inquiry is clearly at work invariably possess four specific characteristics no matter the specific type of inquiry utilized.

  1. The learner is actively involved in the construction of understanding: In all of these frameworks, the role of the student is transformed from a passive consumer of facts and content into an active contributor to the learning experience and the exploration of problems, ideas and solutions.
  2. The teacher as guide and mentor: Teachers in these spaces are constantly reflecting and making changes in order to foster a culture of learning.
  3. The whole child is celebrated and nurtured: Whether it be social-emotional learning, personal awareness and social responsibility, grit and growth mindset, or empathy, the language around learning has shifted in these spaces to focus on nurturing the whole student.
  4. Structures and frameworks exist but learning isn’t overly prescribed or standardized: In these classrooms, standards do not solely drive the learning and content is not overly standardized. Students are often learning about different things that they have all individually chosen, but each student is operating within a common unified structure.

Read the full article about inquiry-based learning by Trevor MacKenzie at KQED.