Inquiry-based learning is a constructivist approach where students take ownership of their learning through exploration, questioning, and investigation of problems or ideas. It involves asking questions, gathering information, analyzing it, generating solutions, and justifying conclusions. The teacher acts as a guide rather than directly teaching content. When implemented correctly, inquiry-based learning can develop skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and lifelong learning. It emphasizes building knowledge through a step-wise process and applying different perspectives to topics. The key components of inquiry include activating prior knowledge, providing background information, defining accountable outcomes, modeling examples, and asking questions to guide research.