Importance of Inquiry
The Socratic Method, named for the Greek philosopher, is a method that uses inquiry—asking questions—to deepen learning and understanding. The key in the Socratic Method is to be more concerned with what the student is learning than you are in giving the answers. So, inquiry—asking questions—becomes a key strategy for reinforcing what students know. There is an old adage that states, “Tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, involve me and I understand.” The purpose of inquiry is to involve the student so that he or she will develop understanding. Inquiry allows students to be involved in utilizing the skills and attitudes needed to construct new meaning—and this is the essence of learning.
Unfortunately, as doing well on high-stakes testing has become more prevalent, the value of inquiry has been displaced by the focus on facts and answering multiple choice questions correctly. The difference is summed up in this example: a fact based test might ask the student to identify who had invented barbed wire, the correct answer being Joseph Glidden in 1873. In an inquiry based approach the question would be asked: “What was going on in 1873 that made the invention of barbed wire a viable alternative?” When an answer was provided to that question, the probe would continue with another question, “What is important about that?” and so on. Many of us who have been schooled under this “learn to pass the test” way of thinking, find it very challenging to not insist on Joseph Glidden type answers. It is a tendency to provide answers rather than check for deeper understanding. The problems with “learn so you can pass the test” thinking is being addressed. New GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) general test protocols are being redesigned to focus on assessing this deeper learning.
The challenge facing America today is the development of effective knowledge workers. On a website that makes the case for the process of inquiry, the following information is shared:
Through the process of inquiry, individuals construct much of their understanding of the natural and human-designed worlds. Inquiry implies a “need or want to know” premise. Inquiry is not so much seeking the right answer — because often there is none — but rather seeking appropriate resolutions to questions and issues. For educators, inquiry implies emphasis on the development of inquiry skills and the nurturing of inquiring attitudes or habits of mind that will enable individuals to continue the quest for knowledge throughout life.[1]
Where do you stand? How important is it to you to ask good questions that promote student learning?
Consult 4 Kids has a long history of advocating for youth and the adults who are their positive role models and mentors. To learn more about our work, please visit our website at www.consultforkids.com, email us at support@consultfourkids.com or call us at (661) 617-7055.
[1] Inquiry-Based Learning. http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/inquiry (May 2010).