Creating an InquiryBased Classroom

In response to the challenge for all 21st century educators to be relevant and interesting, the creation of inquiry-based classroom surfaces as an innovative teaching strategy to complement both their interpersonal and pedagogical skills. As Crawford (2000) aptly put it, knowledge-inquiry by students is a key outcome as teachers engage them in scientific investigations and problem solving.

According to Mazzula (2011), an inquirybased classroom provides opportunities for teachers and students to use their critical thinking skills and integrate their discoveries across other learning ares. The actual process may seem to be challenging for both seasoned and novice teachers to carry out.

However, as facilitators of learning, teachers act as “guides on the side” as students begin at linking prior knowledge with current learning. After exploring what is known about available information. When students thoroughly question and gathered information, they creatively construct an in depth understanding of the topic thus possessing applicative knowledge of the topic to new and exciting situations.

An inquiry-based classroom promotes intellectual engagement through hands-on and minds-on experiences. It fosters collaborative construction, testing and reflection of learning. As teachers of 21st century, we are urged to take on the challenge and explore the possibilities of engaging our students in an interactive and highly motivated atmosphere through inquiry-based teaching and learning innovation.

— oOo— The author is Teacher III at San Carlos Elementary School, San Luis District