Which educational approach encourages students to ask questions?

Inquiry-based learning is the correct answer because it is an educational approach that prioritizes student inquiry, exploration, and questioning as key components of the learning process. In this model, students engage with topics by asking questions, investigating, and deriving conclusions based on their findings. This method encourages curiosity and critical thinking, fostering a deeper understanding of the subject matter as students actively participate in their learning.

In contrast, teacher-led instruction is typically more focused on the teacher delivering content and directing the classroom, with less emphasis on student-generated questions. Direct instruction also follows a similar model, where the teacher presents information in a structured manner, leaving limited room for student inquiry. Although project-based learning can incorporate questioning, its primary focus is on completing a project or inquiry within a broader context rather than centering on the questioning process itself. Thus, while project-based learning can inspire questions, it is inquiry-based learning that specifically emphasizes the act of questioning as the key driver of student engagement and understanding.