Inquiry-based learning (IBL), sometimes called discovery-based learning, is a large component of the BC Education Plan, the document that outlines the new curriculum that is being taught in elementary schools all over the province and will be rolled out to secondary schools in the next two years. Based on recent trials carried out in places such as New Zealand and Hong Kong, IBL is rooted in the idea that students learn more and make more original conclusions when they discover new concepts for themselves, which is generally true. However, if motivation and attention are low, is it really the best approach to entrust students with the responsibility of their own learning? There are certainly advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a CBC article on the topic, and it seems to play both sides of the fence.
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