4. Investigation
Learning through investigation guides the learner to explore, compare and critique the texts, documents and resources that reflect the concepts and ideas being taught.
Inquiry learning or learning through Investigation is a learning activity through which students turn the educator narrative into their own. Students use their study to learn how to learn. In this context, learners are actively in control of the sequence of information and they follow their own line of inquiry. Consequently, they will have a greater sense of ownership of their learning. Inquiry learning helps to make students active participants in developing a response to a set problem or task. Students can perform their investigation individually or collaboratively with other students.
Main principles of learning through Inquiry
There are three main principles of learning through Inquiry which are essential when designing an inquiry-based activity:
- It sets a challenging task, designed to assist the learner in linking theory to its application in a process approximating to authentic practice in the discipline, and relevant to the learner.
- It provides specialised task resources, which may be: print and digital resources; a location, such as a lab or a field trip or performance space; digital simulation or modelling environments.
- The learner has some guidance, designed to model and elicit the skills of inquiry, investigation, interpretation, integration, analysis, critique, evaluation, resolution, synthesis, and representation of a problem or issue.