Inquiry
In a 2019 document, the IB lays out a vision of the key elements of an IB education. A key idea throughout this vision is inquiry, the idea of students “finding their own information and constructing their own understandings.” Inquiry is believed to provide a richer and more effective learning experience for students.
Inquiry (or enquiry) has been a motivating strategy for physics educators and curriculum developers for decades. In 1996, McDermott and collaborators noted in the introduction to Physics by Inquiry that “the process of science cannot be learned by reading, listening, memorizing, or problem-solving. Effective learning requires active mental engagement”. Kahn and O’Rourke suggest that enquiry requires students draw on existing knowledge to address questions that arise from open-ended scenarios.
We often think of inquiry in the context of practical or lab learning in physics, but the essential elements of inquiry, like addressing questions related to complex phenomena, seeking answers, communicating and integrating findings, don’t require stopwatches and multimeters.
Over the next year or so, you will be seeing some new lesson plans on the teacher side of this website that take a “by inquiry” approach. The first of these addresses the nuclear structure components of unit E.1. Give it a try and let us know how it goes!