Rationale for Direct Teaching

It is common in many parts of the world to use inquiry-based learning (IBL) to get students to achieve curriculum goals. We suggest, instead, that teachers use relatively teacher-led lessons & student activities to help ensure all students can learn important attitudes, skills & knowledge (ASK) relating to the topic of the unit of study (e.g., cell biology). We suggest this – as reviewed in the video at right (below on phones) – because of problems with IBL and because of lack of availability of problematic information. Briefly, IBL can be discriminatory because of difficulties that disadvantaged students – e.g., in abilities & cultural-social capital – have in discovering ASK expected of them. At the same time, all students’ inquiries may be limited because capitalists and others limit availability of STSE Harms and rectifying RiNA Projects (e.g., see Merchants of Doubt).