Inquiry Basics
What is the goal of inquiry-based learning?
To promote student engagement, curiosity, and critical thinking through questioning and problem-solving.
What is the purpose of the Engage phase?
To activate prior knowledge and spark curiosity.
Name one thing teachers do while circulating during inquiry.
Listen to student discussion and analyze student work.
What is the first phase in the 4-step inquiry method?
Engage.
Which Danielson component is most directly connected to this SBS session?
1a: Demonstrating Knowledge of Content & Pedagogy.
True or False: In inquiry-based learning, the teacher plays a minimal role.
False. Teachers guide and facilitate the entire process.
During which phase do students design, test, and collect data?
Explore phase.
How do teachers support critical thinking during the Explore phase?
By prompting students with questions like, “What happens when…?”
Which phase often includes small group, hands-on work?
Explore.
According to Danielson, what should explanations of content do?
Be clear, scaffolded, and connected to students’ prior knowledge.
What is one major benefit of inquiry-based instruction?
It fosters deeper understanding through active exploration and student-led discovery.
What question might you ask to guide the Engage phase?
“What have you heard about ______ that you aren’t sure is true?”
What does it mean for a teacher to model “inquiry behaviors”?
Demonstrating curiosity, asking questions, and showing how to investigate.
Which phase serves as a long-form closing?
Extend.
What does inquiry-based instruction increase in students?
Ownership over their learning.
What is the source of the definition: "a teaching method that combines the curiosity of students and the scientific method"?
Education researchers (as cited in the session content).
In the Explain phase, what skill is central?
Interpreting data and findings.
What’s one reflective teacher question during the Explain phase?
“How strong are the claims being made by the student?”
What phase involves students communicating and justifying their findings?
Explain.
Which Danielson component describes clear communication and academic vocabulary use?
3a: Communicating with Students.
In an inquiry-based classroom, who initiates the process of asking questions and exploring topics?
The teacher initiates and guides students through the process.
What does the Extend phase help students do?
Connect learning to real-world applications and deepen conceptual understanding.
Give one way teachers track student misconceptions during inquiry.
By collecting data while circulating and listening to discussions.
True or False: Teachers may skip the Engage phase if a previous lesson already activated prior knowledge.
True.
What challenge might teachers face when implementing inquiry-based learning?
Balancing student-led exploration with teacher guidance and scaffolding.