INQUIRY BASED LEARNING: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Continuous efforts are being made in the field of education for developing new methods to impart knowledge efficiently. All the India schools occupies a significant part of human personality development and success. To improvise the engagement of the students in the learning process, newer and better provisions are essential.

In this stride, the concept of inquiry based learning has evolved. The traditional classroom approach defeats the purpose of an efficient learning process a majority of the time. The monotonous approach does not grab the attention of the students, and hence they are not able to utilize their full potential and contemplate the material being taught. Therefore, Inquiry-based learning can significantly help in improvising the education program.

ABOUT INQUIRY BASED LEARNING

Inquiry-based learning is the method in which the student or a scholar plays a significant role in the learning procedure. The students are free and open to present their inquiries and doubts to the educators, who then proceeds to solve their problems.

In this particular curriculum, a teacher or a trainer does not dictate the knowledge to the students, imposing upon them a specific type of information. A student decides what they need to know and are encouraged to discover their inner interests and share their ideas and opinions. 

Inquiry-based learning utilizes different elements in the education process. It can be available in the form of the group- discussions, guided learning, open conversations and exploration. Students are not provided with a particular syllabus or a study structure to memorize, without analyzing one’s interests and expectations. Through inquiry-based learning, students can better understand things, as get the liberty to pose their questions and receive the appropriate explanation. Inquiry-Based learning endorses education through experience and experimentation.

This process is beneficial as it promotes the engagement of the scholar. A scholar can utilize his analytical and reasoning skills, and they feel more involved. Instead, to listening to the pre-recorded concepts and mindlessly copying down the material from the board, students can get the first-hand experience through inquiry-based learning. It is a proven fact that practical knowledge is more reliable than theoretical knowledge and practicality is the root of inquiry-based learning.

ADVANTAGES OF INQUIRY- BASED LEARNING

Here are a few benefits of this coveted procedure:-

1) IMPROVISES THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Since this process gravitates towards practicality, students can retain the concepts learned in this method for a significant period. Students, instead of memorizing the concepts, understand them and can also clarify their doubts. This enhances the learning experience of the student.

2) DEVELOPS ANALYTICAL THINKING SKILLS

Since the students get to decide what they have to learn, students develop better analytical skills. They explore the roots of every concept, and their comprehensive skills get improvised. Students become more aware and also develop better cognitive skills in this process.

3) PROMOTES CURIOSITY AND THE WILL TO LEARN

Inquiry-based learning fosters curiosity among the students as they start to inquire what they are being taught. They develop more doubts and can enhance the clarity of the concepts they learn. They feel encouraged to share their opinions and explore everything to their best potential.

4) BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE TOPICS

In-depth analysis of a particular topic is entrenched in this style of learning. Students can understand the basics of the topics and also learn them at an extensive level. This way, the credibility of knowledge increases manifold. Also, the students can retain the knowledge for a significant amount of times as they fully understand it.

5) ACTIVE STUDENT PARTICIPATION

As the learning procedure becomes more fun, students actively participate in it. Students start to love the process of learning and hence practice it eagerly. The interaction between the students and teachers also gets enhanced, and the communication skills of the students improvise. Altogether, inquiry-based learning uplifts the classroom ambience.

DISADVANTAGES

Although the disadvantages in this process are not so prominent, there are a few short-comings that cannot be ignored. Through proper management, these disadvantages can be eliminated. Here are a few disadvantages and their solutions:-

• Several students who are shy and timid may face problems due to the lack of confidence. This can be overcome by providing extended support and individual attention to the students by the teacher.
• If the teacher is covertly minded towards this concept, its effectiveness can be hampered. Hence, the teacher needs to accept it to practice it whole-heartedly. 
• Improper setting can also deteriorate its effectiveness. A proper system should be developed where every student is provided with the opportunity to put forward their opinions. A mismanaged situation can prove to be no- beneficial.
• Lack of a base can make the whole process non- productive. Hence a teacher needs to be well versed and encourage the students to steer in the right direction. Sometimes confusion may get created among the students.