Inquiry

Inquiry is a seeking for truth, information, or knowledge usually by questioning. Gifted students need to cultivate inquiry skills, such that they can think critically, evaluate, and identify concerns. Inquiry gives students the opportunities to think independently and to discern their own personal meaning of open-ended problems. It nurtures in gifted students, adept at mental competition and their abilities to “out-think” others, the critical thinking dispositions to be good reflective listeners, open to evidence, and respectful of other points of view.

Inquiry has its basis in Socratic inquiry, a technique of questioning used by the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates (470–399 BCE). As developed by Socrates, the inquiry process has two stages: the ironic or destructive phase, where by skillful questioning the student is brought from unconscious secondary ignorance to conscious ignorance and the maieutic or constructive phase where by further questioning the pupil is led from conscious ignorance to clear and rational truth.

Inquiry forms the basis of several programs that can be used with all students, including gifted students. They can be used as enrichment programs for the gifted, both in elementary and middle [Page 467]school enrichment. This entry focuses on three programs, Matthew Lipman's Philosophy for Children Program, the Great Books Program, and Richard Paul's Socratic Questioning Program. These programs foster the inquiry spirit in the gifted through shared inquiry.