Inquiry-based Learning
Transforming Learning Through Inquiry
Empowering Learners to Tackle Complex, Real-World Challenges
At eMINTS, we know that preparing learners for the future requires moving beyond traditional instruction. When district administrators and principals look to implement high-quality Problem-Based Learning (PBL) or project-based learning initiatives, they need structured, proven frameworks.
We provide two distinct, learner-centered instructional models—Problem-Solving Through Inquiry (PTI) and Design Through Inquiry (DTI). Both approaches empower learners to step out of the role of passive recipients and actively engage with real-world problems.
Problem-Solving Through Inquiry (PTI)
Problem-Solving Through Inquiry (PTI) is an eMINTS student-centered instructional approach rooted in the principles of problem-based learning (PBL) and driven by inquiry.
In PTI, learners actively and collaboratively engage with real-world problems and challenges. At the heart of PTI experiences are complex, “messy” or ill-structured problems that may not have a clear or solvable outcome. In such cases, the goal shifts from finding a solution to developing a deep understanding of the problem’s components, systems, and constraints.
The PTI Impact:
- Active Meaning-Making: Students use questioning, exploration, and evidence-gathering to construct meaning and develop well-reasoned solutions.
- Deepened Knowledge: This process fosters deeper content knowledge, encourages collaboration, and promotes self-directed learning.
- Future-Ready Skills: It also cultivates essential cognitive and non-cognitive skills, including critical thinking, creativity, resilience, and teamwork, that are vital for learner success in both academic and real-world contexts.
Design Through Inquiry (DTI)
While PTI focuses on understanding messy problems, Design Through Inquiry (DTI) is an instructional model that combines the 5Es framework, the design thinking process, and inquiry-based learning.
DTI supports authentic, student-centered learning by embedding inquiry, empathy, and evidence into every stage of the design process.
The DTI Impact:
- Empathy and Evidence: Learners rely on empathy and data to understand the needs of those most impacted by a challenge.
- Prototyping Solutions: As students engage in real-world problem-solving, they actively construct and present prototypes grounded in data.
- Iterative Innovation: DTI embraces an iterative cycle of testing and refining, cultivating highly transferable skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and communication.
The Foundation of eMINTS Inquiry Models
Whether utilizing PTI or DTI, our instructional approaches share two powerful foundational elements:
1. The 5Es Instructional Framework The eMINTS PTI model is embedded within the 5Es instructional framework and includes stages where learners Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate. (DTI similarly incorporates the 5Es alongside the design cycle). Unlike traditional learning models that follow a linear path, PTI embraces a dynamic and iterative process. Learners have the flexibility to revisit earlier steps to refine their understanding or adjust their approach based on new insights.
2. Technology as a Tool for Thinking Central to PTI is the use of technology as a tool for thinking, researching, collaborating, and creating, a signature component of the eMINTS approach. Students leverage digital resources, online databases, collaborative platforms, multimedia tools, and even connections with outside experts to deepen their investigations.
Bring eMINTS Inquiry Models to Your District
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