Inquiry, or the concept of student-led learning, is one that is very close to the heart of the IB program. It is a concept that allows both the students and the teacher to have the power, choice and direction over student learning. This is something that I find to be very uplifting about the PYP program, and one of the reasons many students find such a connection to their education in an IB school.
The idea of inquiry not only puts the needs of the child first, it allows the child to present their own needs and use them to design their learning. As you might imagine, this type of learning environment is one that is more challenging than simply sitting and learning out of a textbook, but it offers so much more to the children. IB has recognized that children are inquisitive by nature, and often seek to find answers to questions they have from an early age. The idea is to use this curiosity and develop it into a way to look at the world. Don't just accept answers, don't just believe something because you were told to, don't assume that you can't change things. Take your knowledge, independence, and inquiry skills and put your learning into action!
In the primary years of the PYP program, students are taught how to use their inquiry skills. Student are shown that being wrong isn't an option, that they should have confidence in their abilities, and that they should take pride in problem solving and asking questions about the world around them. As student progress through the PYP program into the upper years, they are given a chance to use these skills they have been developing and will start to design their own learning. Students can find topics they are passionate about and ask their own questions and design their own pathways towards action and learning. This is an incredible feat for an 12-year-old! But this is something that is possible with the IB program.
Have a great week,
Mrs. Nelson
