Foundations of Education

The 'education for inquiry learning' philosophy aims to empower students to make meaningful choices over their own learning, often in collaboration with their peers.

Below is a summary of the inquiry learning philosophy (reproduced from Week 20's 'Five Philosophies of Education Compared' chart) plus an example teaching philosophy.

Fall Term Correspondence: Week 10

Root Metaphors: Child / Self-development

Aim: To empower students to make meaningful choices over their own learning, often in collaboration with their peers.

Knowledge Acquisition: Follows a transaction path. Knowledge is actively constructed. Balances an individual/societal focus.

Values: Values are relative. Cooperation and social participation are promoted. Individual self-development through reflection on experience is emphasized.

Curriculum: A child-centred curriculum that is derived from the aptitudes and interests of the individual student.

Subject Focus (Geography): A strong focus on inquiry, problem-solving, and reflection on experience. Learning activities relate to student interests, experiences, and personal goals. Celebrates a diversity of place contexts.

Instructional Path: Reflection on experience.

Nora is a teacher who believes that all students learn differently. Her job is to ignite in students a sense of curiosity about the world and then help scaffold their investigation of those topics that most interest them. Nora wants her students to develop independent learning skills that they can then apply to a variety of learning contexts, both within and outside of schools. Although Nora's students complete individualized learning activities, she also helps them develop teamwork and conflict resolution skills through collaborative project-based learning.