Communities of Inquiry in Practice

How do communities of inquiry work across subjects like philosophy, mathematics, and science?

In this episode, Dr. Laurance Splitter shares practical examples of collaborative inquiry with students of different ages, sparked by stories, games, and classroom activities. Discussions range from loyalty and friendship to reasoning, mathematical abstraction, scientific concepts, and ethical questions about animals and human responsibility.

These examples show how effective teachers foster genuine inquiry without fixed outcomes.

The episode concludes with Laurance reflecting on student podcast discussions about social media, trust, and justice and the resistance he encountered when schools deemed related topics “too sensitive.” Echoing psychologist Jonathan Haidt, he highlights the tension between protecting young people and limiting their opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue about the issues shaping their lives.

Connect with Dr. Laurance Splitter: LinkedIn