Photo by Leeloo The First: https://www.pexels.com/photo/question-marks-on-paper-crafts-5428836/
Jeff Hopkins, from Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry, discussed with us the diversity of students’ educational needs. Looking at Vgotsky’s theory of the Zone of Proximal Development, we can understand how student motivation is dependent on their education in regards to what they do know, and what they do not. Students will not be engaged in material if it is too easy, and will also give up if the material is too hard. In the traditional education system, where students are only really grouped by age, it is hard to teach the same material to a group of students that is able to engage everyone. Therefore, one solution is to provide a way for students to have choice in what and how they learn through inquiry.
The processes of inquiry are: generating questions, initial research, developing new questions, developing learning activities with teachers, and executing learning activities. Throughout this process, students will be in contact with teachers, who will be assessing and providing feedback constantly.
I think that inquiry is one of the most inclusive forms of education, as it really allows for students to interact with education in ways that best suits their learning. It is impossible to make one lesson effective for all students, as their learning needs are incredibly diverse! Therefore, the solution to this is to give students autonomy in their learning. Rather than assume what students need, we can give them the lead, and let them generate questions that spark curiosity, and therefore keep them motivated in education.