I found an article that really resonated with me in my research on Guided Inquiry learning and also my teaching as a TL. Garrison, K., Fitzgerald, L. &  Sheerman, A.  (2019). They should be called guiders.” Teachers and tacher librarians developing inquiry learners. School Libraries Worldwide, 25 (2) p. 34-37. https://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/ws/portalfiles/portal/43802268/29481684_published_article.pdf

With schools being no longer the only source that students gain knowledge from, they need to be a place where learning is being facilitated to foster 21st century learning skills. It did mention the pressure from governments to ‘appear to be doing well academically’ on an international scale. This is detrimental to this cause with so many standardized tests needing to be delivered to gain results to show this progress. Students want teacher guidance, however, understand the importance of have that autonomy while searching for information.

It also states how students felt empowered about Guided Inquiry as they have smaller and more achievable steps to work with to create an end product but are also learning along the way during the process. I find that this to be true when I ask students about GI and they too say they know what they need to do and it doesn’t seem so overwhelming. A really important factor when teaching our students is to set them up for success and facilitate them to engage in the process along the way. We can be demonstrating this by being active in the process but also pulling back just enough to allow for student growth and own work.

It is certainly difficult for teachers to make that shift where the learning environment is student-centered learning.

A few things to consider and weigh up with Guided Inquiry,

Carley