Inquiry

Integrated Inquiry is the approach we use to teach Social Sciences, Science, Technology, The Arts, and Health.  It requires that students actively investigate significant questions, issues and ideas about “the way the world works”. It requires students to construct understandings through rich and strategic learning experiences alongside other students and the teacher.  The teacher makes a deliberate effort to integrate relevant knowledge, skills, strategies, structures and competencies. Through integrated inquiry students are encouraged to learn in a variety of ways in authentic contexts to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their world.

Our Torbay School Inquiry Learning model provides meaningful learning opportunities for children and gives them opportunities to take ownership of their learning.  The teacher’s role is more of a facilitator of learning rather than a director of it.  This supports our vision statement where children are encouraged to fly high to learn for a successful future and raise the expectations for their own learning.

At Torbay School Inquiry Learning is:

A constructivist approach, in which learners have ownership of their learning. It begins with exploration and questioning and leads to investigation into a worthy question, issue, problem or idea based on a real life situation.  This can involve their immediate environment, local community or even perhaps more global.  It involves asking questions, gathering and analysing information, generating solutions, making decisions, making mistakes, modifying plans, justifying conclusions, taking action and reflecting on the process and outcome.