Inquiry-based vs Projects-based Learning

Have you heard about inquiry-based and projects-based learning? Can you envision them in your classroom? Are you at a loss of where to begin? Let's take a look at these valuable tools.

Inquiry-based learning is an active learning process. It begins with a question, then proceeds through finding the information, then ends with an understanding of the information. Inquiry-based learning in the classroom becomes a much more involved teaching method. Working in groups is a very practical way of including it. Students who have the opportunity to work in groups will have the opportunity to brainstorm together. As the saying goes, "two minds are better than one."

Project-based learning is truly thinking "outside the box." Students use hands-on learning to obtain their knowledge. The textbook is not as relevant as the project. Instead of reading about building a project, they actually put their hands on it and build it themselves. Project-based learning is education of the 21st century. It is not defined by a classroom. The outdoors can be the classroom, as can a laboratory, or a farm. All it really takes is imagination, and ingenuity to put it to practice.

I am intrigued with the idea of projects-based learning for my classroom. I can see it being very helpful for students who do not learn well in a traditional lecture environment. Young children and/or ADHD children come to mind. They will have the opportunity for movement and discussion, allowing them to learn more, without as many disruptions.

My unit theme is forces of nature. Here is a brief overview of my essential question and unit questions:

EQ: How do forces of nature change our planet?
UQ1: How would a hurricane affect our community?
UQ2: How do earthquakes affect land structures?
UQ3: How much damage do floods cause?

Incorporating these tools with my unit theme will require some imagination. As you can imagine from my essential question, we cannot feasible create a projects-based unit on forces of nature. So we will have to lean more towards the inquiry-based approach. That doesn't mean we can't be imaginative...we'll just have to get creative in our research.