Why does that matter? Where did it originate? Who would benefit? 

How does it work? What caused what? 

When might questions like these be the main driver for learning? These and other questions are found in an inquiry-based learning classroom- where students actively construct knowledge to reach understanding and where authentic questioning drives that learning. Inquiry-based learning is a student-centered approach that cultivates curiosity, critical thinking, problem solving, and deep understanding. 

Inquiry is a natural part of human nature and our need to seek knowledge and truth. The great thinkers through time used inquiry as they sought to understand the universe, the world, the human condition, and themselves. Imagine if these great thinkers never questioned, never probed or prodded, never discussed, nor experimented. The great discoveries of the world happened because someone questioned and actively engaged in inquiry learning. This is what we want for our students in our inquiry-based classrooms. We want them to be curious and active learners who go out into the world questioning, probing and prodding, discussing, and experimenting. These are all an essential part of learning how to learn because simply knowing things is not what will set them up for success in today’s world. Through inquiry skills, we can empower students to navigate a fast-paced, digital world rather than simply consume content.

In an inquiry-based classroom, students are encouraged to:

• ask and answer thought-provoking questions
• investigate widely and deeply
• make sense of information to build new knowledge
• develop a solution and/or formulate opinions
• evaluate the reasonableness and success of their solution
• present or share their new understanding with others
• have a valuable learning experience that leads to taking some form of action
• reflect on what they learned and how they learned it.

When students drive the learning, the engagement is deeper. They aren't memorizing facts for a Friday test; they are building a toolkit of "learning how to learn." This creates a sense of agency and confidence that stays with them long after they leave our school. In this world of rapidly developing technology where information is at our fingertips and AI is trying to replace thinking, it is more essential than ever to ensure our students are thinking critically and evaluating what is useful, true, and ethical. We aren't just preparing them for the next grade level; we are preparing them for a life of active, engaged citizenship. I hope this sparked your curiosity to learn more about inquiry learning at AAS. We invite you to join us at the parent coffee on Friday, February 6.