Activities that are classed as investigation require learners to follow their own lines of inquiry and to ask questions rather than passively receiving information. Grappling with new knowledge in this way encourages problem-solving and can lead to a deeper understanding of the topic.
Examples of this type of learning include conducting internet searches or literature reviews, carrying out field work or lab work – all of these things can start with questions from the learner within the context of the concepts and ideas being taught.
How to implement this online
It’s fairly straightforward to set up investigation tasks in an online environment as students are already used to accessing resources digitally. It’s important to provide appropriate support and guidance though – students need to know how to critically analyse the information they find. They may also need training in specific aspects of conducting research.