“Not All Who Wander Are Lost”: Using Inquiry-Based Learning to Improve Learning and Development

Abstract

When was the last time you had a wicked learning challenge at work? At first glance, these may be well-suited for a training solution. These are the ones that seem disarmingly simple and elegant, where the deliverables are well-defined, there is excellent engagement with the sponsors and subject matter experts, and then, it hits you. As you begin your gap analysis, you discover many more elements. You must provide a learning solution and change how your learners think and solve problems. Your stakeholders believe that performance issues are resolved quickly by incorporating training, but you know that training may not be the real issue. What is your next step? Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities are what you need, and you need a way to teach these skills to your learners so they will be relevant and applicable to their environment (Harvard Business Review, 2020). Systems thinking is an inclusive and innovative way to design a learning process. Exploring inquiry-based problem-solving can help your learners.