How technology facilitates inquiry-based learning

Inquiry-based learning as a style isn’t new — it’s an extension of constructivist theories of learning from pedagogy researchers, such as Jean Piaget. Children are asked to collect information and ‘construct’ presentations or projects. This helps them cement concepts in their own mind during the learning journey. And this style of learning flows all the way through to doctorate levels.

What has changed drastically is the tools we have available for encouraging and facilitating inquiry-based learning, either in the classroom or at home. Students were once limited to the books they could access from their local or school library, yet now they can find facts and information in seconds on a mobile device or laptop.

What does this mean for the future of inquiry-based learning? Will every school project simply be completed using a Google search?

According to the Gonski Institute of Education’s recently released Phase 1 report: growing up digital Australia, while there are legitimate concerns about the increasing role of technology in children’s lives, teachers are largely supportive of the use of technology for driving learning outcomes.

• 66 per cent of teachers believe opportunities to facilitate inquiry-based learning are enhanced using technology
• 55 per cent agreed that student reporting was enhanced by digital technologies
• 60 per cent of teachers believe technology has positively impacted the learning experience for students with disabilities. 

Teachers appear to be largely supportive of technology’s role in driving learning outcomes when applied and monitored correctly. So, what format should teachers consider when using technology in their own classrooms? When following an inquiry-based learning model, technology can be integrated in the following ways:

Develop a set of questions to be answered through group interactions either in the classroom or over a video conference

• Conduct research through internet search engines or through a school’s own online learning materials 
• Brainstorm ideas through face-to-face meetings or via collaborative online tools and shared documents 
• Use shared spreadsheets for collecting, graphing, and presenting information 
• Develop a range of presentations using desktop publishing through PowerPoint or Adobe 
• Deliver an online or in-class presentation on the topic being explored.

Using technology in this way brings students closer to the real-world tasks they’ll be undertaking in university and their careers. The end goal is to show children technology, when used correctly, is a powerful tool for bringing people together to create ideas and deliver projects.

We’re excited about the capabilities connected digital technology has for creating the classrooms of the future. We’ve partnered with Google for their Beacon Schools programme, in which one lucky school in each state of Australia will have the opportunity to become a Datacom Beacon School.

The successful school in each state will receive a school-wide rollout of the Google for Education solution, along with a total transformation of classroom technology, and professional development opportunities for teaching staff. Apply for this revolutionary opportunity here.