The Benefits of an Inquiry Approach to Teaching and Learning
Over the past two years, teachers at St Matthew’s have investigated the benefits of pursuing an inquiry approach to teaching and learning. We’ve conducted a vast amount of research. Some of the key benefits include:

• The skills and strategies students use as they engage in a unit of conceptual inquiry will help them make sense of a complex, ever-changing world.
• Units of inquiry that are compelling, significant and intriguing develop confident, competent learners.
• Compelling, significant and intriguing units of conceptual inquiry increase empathy, and this makes the world a safer place.
• Employers are looking for employees with the skills and attitudes that can be successfully developed through conceptual inquiry.
• Teaching conceptual inquiry units makes teaching more rewarding.
• Tackling challenges with skills and strategies developed through conceptual inquiry makes us happier.
• Learning through inquiry helps students to deal with stress and lead healthier lives.

(Adapted from Claxton, 2018)

Teachers are now able to add to this initial list with ideas borne from experience. Here is what our teachers have to say:

• I see children ‘fly’ with topics that interest them.
• Students take ownership of their learning and are well-equipped to embrace change.
• Students are using higher order thinking skills and are developing deeper levels of understanding.
• I’m able to excite the children and I now have enthusiastic learners.
• Students and teachers have opportunities for innovative teaching and learning.
• The students and I learn and explore in many ways, both individually, and collaboratively.
• Students are stretching their thinking and learning in myriad ways.
• I’m able to use engaging teaching strategies.
• Student voice, student engagement and a greater ability to develop connections to other learning areas are clearly evident.
• Students apply skills that are learned in literacy and numeracy to authentic investigations.

Which of these benefits do you think is of most importance? Which of these challenges your thinking?