Inquiry-based learning can also be treated as research-based learning. From my perspective, inquiry-based learning refers to the establishment of topics from our real life, solving real-world problems and discovering the material, finally learn the knowledge. Students discover problems, doing experiments, collect and process information, express and communicate. In this way, students can develop their attitudes, especially develop their exploration spirit and innovative ability. It advocates the active participation of students. This referring to the way students learn to explore problems by themselves. Students learn through the process. Inquiry-based learning is a kind of learner-centred learning environment, the teacher as facilitator and students are learning actively. 😄 (I really like this kind of learning style!)

Our group’s topic is to teach English to non-English native speakers, we called them ESL (English as Second Language) learners. Inquiry-based learning is somehow aligned with our topic. Although someone might think that Inquiry-based learning is only fit for science class, the English language class also can use this method to teach. As an instructor, we could make the class content become a real-world issue, and ask students to solve it. For example, most of us will read some movie reviews before watching the movie. In this way, we can decide whether this movie is worth watching or not. This a common thing that most people would do before watching the movie. Therefore, the instructor could ask students to read those movie reviews instead of boring academic articles to develop students reading comprehension skills. Making class contents more real-world could help students develop their ability more quickly than just explaining the textbooks. Also, activities and real-world problems will engage and motivated students to study. However, there are few disadvantages in this kind of style, for example; inquiry-based leaning is only fit for small size class, it could be hard to achieve in a big size lecture. We still have to decide which is the best way to teach when we are the instructor. 

 

Caroline