What Is Inquiry-Based Learning?

Inquiry-based learning is a student-centered approach that encourages learners to ask big questions, and explore answers through hands-on investigation. If you’ve ever asked a class, “What do you want to learn about?” and received unenthusiastic or vague responses, then you’ve experienced one of the challenges this method aims to address.

As Heather Wolpert-Gawron of Edutopia says, “It’s about triggering curiosity. And activating a student’s curiosity is, I would argue, a far more important and complex goal than mere information delivery.” Inquiry-based learning shifts the teacher’s role from an imparter of knowledge to a designer of meaningful learning experiences.

In ESL or EFL classrooms, common examples of inquiry-based learning include preparing for and participating in debates, conducting research projects, or exploring topics and issues through student-created questions.

There are four main methods of inquiry‑based learning, each providing a different balance between teacher and student responsibilities, according to the American College of Education:

1. Structured Inquiry
The teacher provides the question, materials, and procedure. Students follow a clear process to investigate and draw conclusions.
Example: Testing water samples for pH levels in a science lab.

2. Guided Inquiry
The teacher provides the central question, but students choose how to investigate it.
Example: Researching the causes and impact of a historical movement.

3. Open Inquiry
Students create their own questions, plan their method of investigation, and form the entire process independently, with teacher assistance and guidance as needed.
Example: Conducting an experiment to explore how light affects plant growth.

4. Problem-Based Learning (PBL)
Learners investigate and propose solutions to a real-world problem that doesn’t have one correct answer.
Example: Proposing a waste-reduction plan for the school cafeteria.

Regardless of the method used, the teacher’s central responsibilities remain the same: creating a safe, positive learning environment; providing appropriate scaffolding; and making sure learners have access to appropriate research materials. Offering clear assessment tools, such as rubrics, can also help students understand expectations and navigate their big questions with confidence.