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Bourchier Street Primary works hard to provide a learning environment that caters for the diverse range of needs that companion our students. Our school is a place where students can pursue their passions and be urgently curious about the world. We are committed to this vision and every student has an opportunity to pursue their own interests and find a passion in what they are learning. Inquiry Learning is an important part of our Teaching and Learning program we believe that the significant appetite for learning it seeks to create will prepare our students well for a rapidly changing world. |
Play Based Inquiry
Play based inquiry is usually driven by students’ interests, questions and knowledge base that are explored during their exploration of a range of materials for different purposes in a variety of
situations. The materials and initial experiences are purposefully selected and organised by the teacher to elicit the students’ curiosity, motivation and constructive play. Through strategic teacher observation interaction and annotation, the teacher is able to identify, design and facilitate whole class, small group or individual inquiries. These inquiries may be much shorter than other approaches to inquiry. This approach is most popular with young students because of the hands on nature of the explorations and investigations. The provision of appropriate materials that will facilitate exploratory play can prove a challenge for teachers. Play based inquiry requires skilled teacher questioning, monitoring and a flexible approach. These inquiries could be subject specific or integrated. |
Student Choice
Offering students choices about their learning is one of the most powerful ways to boost student learning.
Students learn more when they are motivated. When students have energy and passion for their work and are driven to excel, they can accomplish incredible feats. When we tap into students' interests and passions, they are more joyful and invested in their learning and this can result in excellent achievement. During all Inquiry we have a look at ways that we can cater for the varying interests and passions of student and harness the intrinsic motivation that lives in all students. |
No (Subject) Boundaries
Inquiry Learning provides a unique opportunity for learners to engage in subject material in an authentic way that is can be connected easily to the context of their lives.
Traditional subject boundaries are blurred and in any Inquiry Learning session students are engaged in literacy, numeracy, science, humanities and other activities. There are many examples that this type of learning can result in a deeper connections that allows them to more readily transfer the new content, skills and knowledge that students learn and apply it to new situations and contexts. We have identified that the traits and capabilities of creativity, curiosity, citizenship, collaboration, communication, and character as being vitally important for students ability to succeed in the rapidly changing world. Check out our Deeper Learning Rubric that gives students and teachers a framework for the development of these traits. |
