Inquiry-based learning is a form of active learning that starts by posing questions, problems or scenarios. We learn about history, geography, civics and citizenship.
Teachers skillfully scaffold the learning experiences to support the students to research, observe, evaluate and understand a variety of curriculum areas.
The approach to Inquiry Learning at St. Jude’s is grounded in our Catholic ethos, to ‘Love One Another’, and is guided by our school motto, ‘Serve the Lord with Joy’. All of our inquiry learning units start with an essential question stemming from Catholic Social Teaching:
- How is dignity upheld?
- How do we respect creation?
- What is true community?
- What is authentic power?
- How do we understand change and make positive choices for self and others?
- How do we contribute to a more and just world?
- What is justice for the poor?
The Victorian Curriculum is sequenced to help students explore these essential questions – curriculum areas include history, geography, civics and citizenship. The learning experiences are designed to enable students to develop their personal and social capabilities, intercultural and ethical capabilities and critical and creative thinking.
All of the Inquiry Learning has a real world context and subsequently we have developed a number of wonderful community partnerships, including:
- Aboriginal Catholic Ministry
- Have a Ball Foundation
- Dolphin Research Institute
- Caritas Australia
- Vincent de Paul Society
- The Resilience Project
- State and Federal parliamentarians and offices
- Knox Disability Services
- GRIP Student Leadership Australia.