Inquiry Based Learning

"Inquiry based approaches to science education focus on student constructed learning as opposed to teacher-transmitted information" - Wilfred A. Franklin

Inquiry based learning is an old concept of learning. This form of learning is an educational concept that relies more on a learner's side of involvement than a teacher's intervention. This approach is quite different from a traditional mode of learning. In a conventional classroom, teachers use a system, where they come to the class with a set of pre-prepared course curriculum and deliver them to the students on a sequential mode. In fact, they are the active facilitators of teaching by providing a source of skills and knowledge to the students. The entire teaching process is teacher-driven, when the teacher manages and administers the entire proceedings.

On the other hand, an inquiry based learning system drives the students to learn in a productive manner. Here, the teacher or instructors act as mentors or guides to lead students to learn their lessons. The teacher-in-charge will allow the students to come with their own queries and questions that eventually help them learn with a motivated mind. 

Children are curious and motivated to know and learn anything that interests them. Their intense desire to learn new things, will lead them to design, create, master and experiment with different things and issues. In an inquiry based learning system, there are two important entities. A child will have his or her interests and motivation to drive the learning process. On the contrary, both parents and teachers just act as facilitators or mentors in the entire learning process. An inquiry based learning process is evolving and organic, apart from its dynamic and interactive nature. It means that a child, who uses this approach is very active when he or she gets an active interest in learning. An inquiry based learning process involves the following important factors:

New discovery - Something interests and intrigues children that eventually force them to know more about it. This intriguing thing can fuel a child's imagination and drive to learn more. This very precious response system works very well for any child. An urge or drive to explore new domains or things will help a child to try his or her maximum best to master the basics of lessons.

A sense of action to drive the learning process - Although children are busy learning their lessons, teachers keep observing and mentoring their activities. They will also provide many opportunities to children to ask their questions and seek clarifications. During the process of learning, children start collecting information and details regarding the lessons. In this way, children will interact with other children to learn on a mutual basis. Team learning is an excellent way to learn new things and lessons.

Results or outcome - At the end of the learning process, the children will assess their performance with the active help from their teachers. This step is a reflection period, when children compare their performance level and later assess what can be done to improve their performance. The teacher, who is in charge, will help them in the process. Once children feel confident, they can probe and test new areas, domains and territories. The outcome is academic excellence, cooperation and teamwork.

Improve your Child's Concentration

Some children may show extreme difficulty while concentrating on their studies and other activities. These signs may include fickle mindedness, fidgeting, not paying attention, when someone speaks to them and getting forgetful from time to time. It could be frustrating for parents to see their children facing such a delicate situation. Most parents may also simply fail to notice that their children have very poor level of concentration. Experts suggest that lapses in concentration could be a detrimental factor in a child's life and parents must pay their attention to set right this condition as soon as possible. Simply speaking, concentration is the ability to focus on a specific task for a reasonable period.

A perceived lack of concentration could be due to a number of reasons and causes, most of which depend on the age and health status of the child. Concentration and attention in children are a matter of extreme interest in parenting, because of their usability and importance in achieving academic success. Intelligence and academic skills are just small parts of the final formula for your child's educational success.

Educational experts also feel that the ability to concentrate is a very soft skill that can have adverse impact on the learning process. In essence, most of the parents often make a trivial issue by hoping that their children will control their abilities to pay attention. What they may not realize is that a lack of an ability to concentrate on daily chorus and classroom work could be a serious issue that could derail their career achievements. As a parent, you may wish to know why children lose their focus and concentration, when they are doing some work and those reasons that cause an inability to concentrate on important things.

Here are some of them:

Not enough sleep: Tiredness and fatigue that occur because of insufficient sleep could be very good reasons for your child to lose concentration. Putting your child to a good night's sleep will help him or her to develop concentration and focus.

Lack of motivation and absence of interest: If your child loses interest in the work, he or she may lose concentration very easily. Lack of motivation is another factor that has lot of bearing on your child's ability to develop the power of concentration. This usually happen to a gifted child who is advanced in the subject. 

Health status: Weak health status could be one of the important reasons for your child to lose focus and concentration. Weak glandular functions, dehydration and bad eating habits may also contribute to poor levels of concentration. You may wish to force your child to eat better food and snacks, instead of all those junk and oil rich fast food snacks.

Ambient conditions: Intensive activity, extreme noise and a disturbing surrounding could be other factors that could affect your child's ability to concentrate.

Lack of exercise: Children need optimal amount of exercise per day to rejuvenate their body and mind. Lethargy and laziness are the byproducts of those children, who simply sit in front of TV for hours together.

Trouble with teachers: Some children may not like a particular teacher for some unknown reasons. You may need to resolve this issue by interacting with that teacher.

Grief and sadness: If there is a tragedy in your family or of the child is sad due to something, he or she may find concentrating very difficult.