At Griffin State School, Inquiry-Based Learning is embraced as a stance, a philosophy, and a way of being rather than a subject. It is a valued approach to teaching and learning in all curriculum areas.
Selecting inquiry-based learning as an approach must begin with developing a deep understanding of purpose. Without this, shifting engrained teaching behaviors is unlikely to be successful. The role inquiry can play in the effectiveness of student learning must be made explicit to educators.
Griffin's inquiry stance is a Sophisticated Synthesis of research-informed pedagogies and strategies. The key inquiry practices are guided and inspired by the Curiosity and Powerful Learning manuals and the work of Kath Murdoch and her book, The Power of Inquiry. The inquiry cycle outlined by Kath Murdoch is used to support planning for teaching and learning. The inquiry cycle also assists learners to more deeply understand and document learning journeys as they unfold.
Like students in the classroom, growing staff as inquirers requires permission to transform from Knowers to Learners- to try and fail, to notice and reflect, and to develop confidence and competency over time. Staff at Griffin recognize that they must nurture themselves as inquirers, working to consciously shift their stance across the day. Being an inquiry teacher means committing to always being a learner and being supported to do so.
Growing as a school that harnesses inquiry-based learning is a 'Shared Journey of Inquiry' in itself - a 'pick up and run with it' approach to inquiry is not what Griffin State School envisions. Instead, staff are building a context-specific repertoire of inquiry practices and strategies over time. This approach allows for staff voice, reflection on effectiveness in deep learning, and essential capacity-building time.
Consistently embedding collectively identified inquiry-based learning approaches in classrooms is a journey for both staff and students. There is much to be unlearned and many traditional approaches to be shifted. Although an uncertain journey, inquiry allows us to be our most human - in a state of Curiosity.