Critical thinking and inquiry-based learning
What is critical thinking?
Definition and core skills
Critical thinking is a disciplined approach to evaluating information, arguments, and evidence in order to form reasoned judgments. It involves more than simply knowing facts; it requires actively examining assumptions, recognizing bias, and drawing evidence-based conclusions. Core skills typically include analysis, evaluation, inference, interpretation, explanation, and self-regulation of one’s own thinking.
- Analysis: breaking information into parts and examining relationships
- Evaluation: judging the credibility and relevance of evidence
- Inference: drawing logical conclusions from available data
- Interpretation: understanding meaning and significance
- Explanation: articulating reasoning clearly
- Self-regulation: monitoring one’s thinking processes and adjusting as needed
Relevance in education
In education, critical thinking empowers learners to navigate complex ideas, solve problems, and transfer skills across subjects. It supports independent figure-it-out thinking, collaborative reasoning with peers, and the ability to justify conclusions with evidence. As disciplines become more interdisciplinary and information sources multiply, students who can think critically are better prepared to evaluate claims, discern quality sources, and communicate well-reasoned arguments.
What is inquiry-based learning?
Principles and practices
Inquiry-based learning centers on student questions and exploration. It treats learners as active constructors of knowledge rather than passive recipients. Key practices include posing meaningful questions, designing and conducting investigations, collecting and analyzing evidence, and presenting reasoned conclusions. Reflection on the thinking process itself is an integral part of the cycle, helping students refine their approaches over time.
Teacher and student roles
In this approach, teachers act as facilitators and guides who design compelling tasks, provide appropriate supports, and help students navigate uncertainty. Students take ownership of their learning, engage in collaborative inquiry, and articulate their reasoning. The classroom becomes a space where curiosity is valued, errors are seen as learning opportunities, and evidence guides progress.
Types of inquiry
Inquiry can take multiple forms depending on the amount of guidance provided. Structured inquiry follows clearly defined steps and questions set by the teacher, while guided inquiry offers more student autonomy within a framework. Open or pure inquiry invites students to formulate questions and investigate with minimal direction. Many classrooms blend these forms to fit learning goals, time, and student readiness.
Linking critical thinking to inquiry-based learning
Promoting questioning and evidence
A core link between critical thinking and inquiry is the emphasis on questioning and evidence. Students are encouraged to pose robust questions, seek multiple sources, compare findings, and justify conclusions with data. This practice strengthens reasoning, clarifies thinking, and makes the evaluation of evidence a visible, deliberate process.
Creating open-ended problems
Open-ended problems lack a single correct answer and mirror real-world complexities. They invite diverse approaches, require justification, and stimulate discussion about trade-offs and implications. By confronting ambiguity in a structured way, students practice critical thinking while engaging with authentic tasks.
Designing for inquiry-to-thinking development
Framing compelling questions
Effective inquiry begins with questions that are meaningful, provocative, and connected to student interests or real-world contexts. A well-framed question should invite investigation, align with learning goals, and leave room for multiple valid outcomes. Strong questions spark curiosity and set the direction for the inquiry cycle.
Scaffolding and supports
Supports are essential to move students from guided exploration to independent thinking. Scaffolds can include exemplars, sentence stems for reasoning, planning templates, checklists, and model solutions. As learners gain competence, supports are gradually removed to promote autonomy and confidence in reasoning.
Assessment alignment
Assessment in inquiry-to-thinking development should capture evidence of reasoning, not just final answers. Formative checks, performance tasks, and reflective prompts help teachers monitor understanding and adjust instruction. Rubrics that describe thinking processes alongside content outcomes ensure alignment between goals, tasks, and feedback.
Classroom strategies and activities
Socratic questioning
Socratic questioning uses purposeful, open-ended questions to probe reasoning, highlight assumptions, and encourage justification. It keeps discourse focused on evidence and encourages students to articulate and defend their thinking. This strategy supports deeper analysis and collaborative sense-making.
Collaborative inquiry
Collaborative inquiry leverages the collective reasoning of groups. Students share ideas, critique each other’s claims, and build understanding through dialogue and negotiation. Structured roles and norms help ensure productive discussion and equitable participation.
Problem-based learning activities
Problem-based learning centers on authentic, complex problems that require sustained inquiry. Students work through multiple steps—defining the problem, researching, testing solutions, and presenting outcomes. This approach integrates content knowledge with critical thinking and teamwork.
Assessment, feedback, and improvement
Formative assessment methods
Ongoing formative assessment tracks progress during inquiry. Methods include exit tickets, think-aloud protocols, peer review, observation notes, and quick checks for understanding. The goal is to provide timely feedback that guides next steps and supports growth in reasoning skills.
Rubrics and self-assessment
Clear rubrics outline expected thinking processes and criteria for success. Self-assessment activities encourage students to reflect on their reasoning, identify gaps, and plan improvements. When students critique their own work, they become more responsible for their learning trajectory.
Using feedback to guide next steps
Feedback should be actionable and tied to evidence from the inquiry. Teachers guide students to adjust questions, seek new sources, or revise arguments. This iterative loop reinforces thinking habits and helps students progressively tackle more complex problems.
Trusted Source Insight
For a deeper understanding of how inquiry-based learning supports critical thinking, explore UNESCO’s perspective. UNESCO emphasizes learner-centered pedagogy, inclusive access, and strong teacher professional development as core elements of inquiry-based approaches. The emphasis is on assessment that captures evidence of thinking and reasoning as students investigate questions, justify conclusions, and reflect on their thinking.
UNESCO perspective on inquiry-based learning
UNESCO frames inquiry-based learning as a pathway to develop critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills. It highlights the importance of learner agency, collaborative inquiry, and equitable participation. The approach integrates assessment practices that document reasoning processes and the ability to justify conclusions, not only correct answers.
Key takeaways
- Learner-centered pedagogy that prioritizes questions and investigations
- Inclusive access to inquiry experiences for diverse learners
- Professional development for teachers to design and facilitate effective inquiries
- Assessment that captures evidence of thinking, reasoning, and justification
Implementing in diverse settings
Equity and access
Implementing inquiry and critical thinking requires attention to equity. Designing tasks that are accessible to students with different backgrounds, abilities, and resources ensures that all learners can participate meaningfully. This includes providing multiple entry points, varied supports, and flexible demonstration methods for understanding.
Cultural and language considerations
Social and linguistic diversity enriches inquiry but also calls for culturally responsive teaching. Framing questions and tasks in ways that respect students’ languages, experiences, and perspectives enhances engagement and relevance. Collaboration and value for diverse viewpoints strengthen critical thinking as a shared practice.