What is inquiry in the PYP?
A key feature of an International Baccalaureate (IB) PYP education is how students are supported to take ownership of their learning and to learn through guided inquiry. So, what does it mean to learn through inquiry and how does the IB describe it?
The spirit of inquiry
The Primary Years Programme (PYP) believes that students should be actively involved in their own learning and take responsibility for it. They encourage this by using inquiry, which is when students explore and understand the world around them through their own interests and by asking questions. Research has found that this is the best way for students to learn.
Inquiry is part of the PYP learner profile, which means students are encouraged to be curious and enthusiastic about learning. Through inquiry, students are challenged to think, reflect and take action, which helps them to develop important skills and traits. Inquiry is purposeful and authentic, which means it helps students achieve their own goals while also solving problems.
By using inquiry in meaningful contexts, students are able to connect what they learn to their personal experiences, as well as to local and global opportunities and challenges. The inquiry process helps develop international mindedness, which means valuing different views and perspectives. The IB believes that this inquiry process is the basis for learning and teaching in all their programmes.
The inquiry process
The inquiry process helps students to learn by connecting their interests with their learning goals. Students have a say in what they learn and take ownership of their learning, which helps them build new skills.
PYP teachers and students work together to plan for inquiry using different strategies, tools, and practices that suit the learning goals and respond to students’ interests. Through the inquiry process, students learn by:
- Asking questions and exploring new ideas
- Trying out different possibilities and making connections between what they already know and what they are learning
- Collecting data and reporting their findings
- Clarifying their ideas and changing their understanding
- Applying what they have learned to solve problems and defend their ideas.
By going through this process, students develop a deeper understanding of the concepts they are learning about.
Designing an inquiry
Inquiry can be done in different ways, either with a lot of guidance from the teacher or with more freedom for the students. The PYP prefers guided inquiry, which means that the teacher helps the students to learn gradually and build more complex ideas.
There are different ways to do inquiry-based learning, such as playing, solving problems, working together, trying things out, and getting direct teaching. In these activities, the teacher responds to what the students are interested in and what they discover on their own. Sometimes, the students can also choose what they want to learn about.
These inquiry-based learning experiences are meant to help students become better thinkers, researchers, collaborators, and communicators. They also help students to develop the traits in the learner profile, which is a set of skills and attitudes that the PYP values.
Explicit teaching
Teaching specific information and skills can help students learn and understand better. Sometimes this teaching happens with the whole class, sometimes with small groups or individuals. In a classroom where students are learning through inquiry, teachers teach specific things when it’s needed, not just in case it might be needed later. Students learn by connecting what they already know with the new things they’re taught.
I hope this gives some useful information about inquiry learning. Some possible ways that you could support your child at home include:
Try new things: Exploring new things and hobbies helps to grow a learners’ identity. Learn more about yourself and what brings you joy! Sign up for classes, search online, or try something new together.
Play together: Board and card games boost literacy, math, communication, and reasoning skills. Try a family game night!
Learn together: A culture of curiosity and learning at home. Watch a documentary, read a book, or go to a museum.
Ask questions: Reflection is a powerful tool for inquiry. Here are some questions to try:
What is your class learning about?
What are you curious about?
What problems do you see at school or at home that we could solve?
If you have any questions about inquiry or how to support your child, please ask.
Best regards,
Matthew Richmond
PYP Coordinator