Introduction: The Power of a Question
In PBL Simplified, we meet Skyler—a student who once floated through school, disengaged and unmotivated. That is, until he encountered a project that sparked his curiosity. His teachers didn’t start with a lecture or a worksheet; instead, they posed a real-world question that made Skyler think: How can photography be used to tell untold stories in our community? That single inquiry ignited his passion, leading him to create a photography project that gained national attention. This is the magic of inquiry in a PBL classroom—it transforms passive learners into active problem-solvers.
In this blog, we’ll explore how to develop a culture of inquiry in your PBL classroom, helping learners ask better questions, seek deeper understanding, and become lifelong learners.
1. Inquiry as the Foundation of PBL
At its core, Project Based Learning (PBL) is inquiry-driven. Instead of delivering information, educators create learning experiences where students ask, explore, and construct knowledge. The best PBL units begin with a driving question—one that is open-ended, complex, and connected to the real world.
What Makes a Great Driving Question?
A strong driving question should:
- Spark curiosity (How can we design a more sustainable school cafeteria?)
- Require research and problem-solving (What causes water pollution in our local river?)
- Be relevant to students’ lives (How can we create a campaign to promote mental health in teens?)
- Lead to multiple possible solutions (What’s the best way to design an inclusive playground?)
If learners can Google the answer in five minutes, the question isn’t deep enough.
2. Teaching Students to Ask Better Questions
Great PBL teachers don’t just provide information—they teach students how to ask great questions. Many learners have been conditioned to seek the right answer rather than explore multiple possibilities. Shifting this mindset takes intentional effort.
Strategies to Develop Inquiry Skills:
- The Question Formulation Technique (QFT): Teach learners to generate their own questions, categorize them as open or closed, and refine them for deeper inquiry.
- The “5 Whys” Method: Have students repeatedly ask why to dig into the root causes of a problem.
- Inquiry Journals: Encourage learners to document their questions throughout a project, then revisit and refine them.
- Socratic Seminars: Facilitate discussions where learners respond to each other’s questions rather than just answering yours.
One educator in Life’s a Project shared how a struggling student, initially uninterested in a history project, became deeply engaged when he was encouraged to ask his own historical “what if” questions. By the end, he had written a compelling, research-backed alternative history piece—because he owned the inquiry.
3. Structuring Inquiry in a PBL Classroom
Inquiry can’t be chaotic—it requires intentional scaffolding. Learners need guidance as they move from basic curiosity to deep, research-driven exploration.
The Inquiry Cycle in PBL:
- Engage – Spark curiosity with a compelling entry event or real-world problem.
- Explore – Have students generate their own questions and hypotheses.
- Investigate – Guide them in researching, testing ideas, and seeking expert input.
- Create – Support students as they design solutions, prototypes, or presentations.
- Reflect – Encourage learners to analyze what they’ve learned and how their thinking has evolved.
Example: A middle school science class studying climate change could follow this process:
- Engage: Watch a video on rising sea levels and discuss personal impacts.
- Explore: Learners generate questions—Why are some areas more affected than others? What can we do to help?
- Investigate: Groups conduct research, analyze local data, and interview climate scientists.
- Create: Teams develop public awareness campaigns or propose community-based solutions.
- Reflect: Learners assess their findings and discuss what worked, what didn’t, and what they’d do differently next time.
4. Encouraging Learners to Embrace Uncertainty
Inquiry-based learning means letting go of control. Teachers must be comfortable not having all the answers—and learners must embrace uncertainty.
How to Foster a Growth Mindset Around Inquiry:
- Model curiosity. Ask, I don’t know—how could we find out?
- Celebrate mistakes. Frame failure as a step toward deeper learning.
- Encourage multiple perspectives. Have students debate different viewpoints and solutions.
- Provide real-world connections. Bring in experts who model inquiry in their own fields.
A powerful example comes from PBL Simplified, where a team of high schoolers worked with engineers to design assistive technology for people with disabilities. They tested multiple prototypes, faced repeated failures, and learned to pivot their approach. In the end, some of their solutions were actually adopted by users—but only because they persisted through the uncertainty of the design process.
5. Taking Inquiry Beyond the Classroom
The best PBL units don’t stay within four walls—they connect to authentic audiences and real-world action.
- Invite experts to give feedback or serve as mentors.
- Encourage learners to conduct field research through surveys, interviews, or site visits.
- Have students present their findings to local businesses, city officials, or nonprofit organizations.
- Use technology to collaborate with classrooms around the world on shared inquiries.
When learners see that their questions can lead to real change, their motivation skyrockets.
Conclusion: Join the PBL Movement Online Community!
Inquiry is at the heart of Project Based Learning—it’s what turns passive learners into engaged, critical thinkers. By structuring inquiry, modeling curiosity, and connecting learning to real-world challenges, we empower students to become the problem-solvers our world needs.
If you’re ready to take inquiry in your PBL classroom to the next level, I invite you to join the PBL Movement Online Community! Connect with inspiring educators, engage in meaningful discussions, and access exclusive resources to enhance your PBL practice.