Guiding deeper learning through questions, not just answers

In concept-based and inquiry-driven classrooms, the goal is not just to cover the content – it’s to deepen thinking, make connections and find personal meaning. Generative AI can help students ask better questions, explore possibilities, and reflect on their own growth. 

Using it intentionally, AI can become a thinking companion for curiosity, critical thinking, and self-awareness.

Why use AI to support inquiry and reflection

✅ It can spark curiosity with rich, varied prompts

✅ It can encourage student agency in question development

✅ It can support diverse learners in exploring ideas more deeply

✅ It can scaffold reflective practices with prompts, sentence starters, and personalized feedback

How to use AI to enhance inquiry

Support student question generation

Use when: Students are beginning an inquiry but are struggling to move beyond basic questions

Prompt: “I’m exploring the concept of (insert concept) in a unit about (insert topic). Suggest 5 deeper inquiry questions I could ask.”

• Extension: ask students to rate or revise the AI’s questions, and add their own

Why it works: It helps model what strong questions sound like, especially for students who are new to open-ended inquiry.

Explore multiple perspectives

Use when: Students are considering a topic or event through different lenses.

Prompt: “What are three perspectives people might have about (insert topic)?”

Why it works: This opens up space for complexity and nuance and helps students compare and contrast different ideas on the same topic

Make connections across concepts

Use when: Students are trying to understand how different ideas are related

Prompt: “How might the concepts of (insert concepts) connect in a novel or historical event?”

Why it works: It encourages students to explore conceptual relationships and develop transfer thinking skills.

How to use AI to support student reflection

Generate reflection prompts

Use when: Students have completed a learning activity or experience and need help unpacking it.

Prompt: “Give 5 reflection questions for students who just completed a task on (insert topic). See the attached instructions, they were given (attach assignment details).”

Sample outputs: “What did you learn about yourself through this assignment?” “How did collaboration shape the final product?” “What would you do differently next time?”

Support reflective writing with scaffolds

Use when: A student is unsure how to begin a journal or portfolio entry

Prompt: “Give sentence starters for reflecting on a learning challenge I overcame.”

Sample outputs: “One thing I found difficult at first was…” “I realized I had grown when…” “A turning point in my thinking was…”

Build metacognitive awareness

Use when: Students are using AI in a project and need to reflect on the process.

Prompt: “What questions can I ask students to help them reflect on how they used AI in their learning?”

Sample outputs: “How did AI support or challenge your thinking?” “What did you contribute that AI could not?” “How did using AI change how you approached the task?”

Classroom practices for integrating AI inquiry and reflection

Model curiosity: Show your own questioning process with AI.

Build in critique: Ask students to reflect not just on what they learned, but how AI helped, hindered, or complicated that learning.

Pair with journaling: Use short reflection check-ins after any AI-supported task.

Keep inquiry student-centred: Let students prompt AI themselves, and reflect on which prompts gave the best insights and why.

Final thoughts

While AI is a tool, inquiry and reflection are mindsets. By using the tool to help students ask better questions, make meaningful connections, and think about their learning, we’re not just making use of the technology; we’re empowering deeper learning.