I’ve noticed from my experience in the teacher education program so far that in contemporary education there is no one method or approach with authority. The scope of modern educational operation is so broad that it boggles my mind. I’ve been exposed to a host of tried and true learning approaches and I’m left wondering “yeah, but which one am I supposed to use?”. I’m hoping that as I further my education and discover/become more in touch with my educational philosophy that I will align with one that speaks to me. What I have learned with all of the exposure I’ve been getting (including this weeks lecture) is that modern education is a mosaic of diverse methods and practices that all strive towards a common outcome. This outcome is education that is: learner-based, learner-driven, dynamic, flexible, engaging, interactive, relevant, experiential, holistic, collaborative, and transformative. It is education with such characteristics that have the power to develop a generation of empowered individuals, active citizens, and ingenious contributors. This week we did a deep dive into inquiry-based learning which is growing increasingly popular.
10 Characteristics of the Inquiry Classroom
I learned a lot from this infographic. Because in addition to bringing my attention to aspects of an inquiry classroom that I had not been aware of it also gave me helpful tips for meeting these guidelines. Although all of these characteristics are important fostering curiosity and a love for learning in my students is really important to me and so I decided to look into that characteristic deeper.
Fostering Curiosity and a Love for Learning
- Spark wonder, awe, and JOY
- Encourage exploration and experimentation
- Stimulate the senses
- Provoke ideas
- Welcome uncertainty
- Engage with the puzzling and problematic
