6/15/23, 8:50 PM Inquiry-based learning - iCanStudy

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Inquiry-based learning

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Creating problems and then answering these problems dictates what we consume and how we think about
things. This process of seeking an answer and being curious, followed by satiating that curiosity, is called
‘inquiry-based learning’.

We base our learning on asking questions about creating and solving problems. Learning in order to solve
problems results in not only knowing how to solve the problem but allows us to have more information to
ask even more questions. This ongoing cycle results in much deeper, applicable understanding and higher
retention rate.

Students often struggle with applying the knowledge they’ve learned. The real issue is, why aren’t
these students applying their knowledge straight away? That’s like running down the road because
someone told you to, then not knowing where you’re going or why you’re running when you’re 5km
down. Studying only produces learning when the information you consume has a purpose. And
problems give purpose.
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Conventional learning causes you to learn too much information at once, which makes things harder to
process because of its unfocused nature. This causes learners to quickly forget the information, which
wastes a lot of time going back to relearn. Your brain also doesn’t enjoy the unstructured nature of
conventional learning, which causes you to feel that the information is tedious and unenjoyable.

It’s like throwing a bunch of items into a room, then realising you don’t know where anything is, so
taking it all out and organising it again. The better approach would have been to organise it first!

The traffic light system

To start implementing inquiry-based learning we can train our brain using the traffic light system.

Continue to use the collecting and processing way of writing notes when performing this! You never
want to go back to just passive linear note-taking ever again.

// RED

Grab all your study material and ask yourself what you are curious about the topic.

What questions can you make?

What problems can you solve?

Where can you apply this?

At the beginning, don’t try to make perfect questions. It is very normal to struggle with asking
questions, which is perfectly fine, but you need to continue asking them in order to improve and
benefit from this task.

// GREEN

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Go and answer those questions, learning the topic in a very organic way. Don’t read everything trying to
memorise all the information. Instead, focus on naturally answering the questions you have asked.

When answering questions, try to process multiple answers into a single, condensed set of notes.
You may need to answer each individually as a collecting step, but we want to start thinking about
how the answers are related to each other and how the topic is inter-connected. You can often find
many chunks by doing this – which you should then express through your processed notes.

Feel free to give mindmapping a go – even if you get it wrong, we will work on your technique in later
stages anyway, so it doesn’t matter if you don’t do it perfectly. Your experience at trying and failing
will speed up your development significantly in later stages.

Then you go back to Red and ask more questions. Because you have more knowledge after answering your
questions on the green light, this enables you to ask more specific or different kinds of questions about the
topic than you could at first.

Keep switching green to red to green to red in order to thoroughly understand the topic.

Clarification
Correct execution of the Traffic Light System is one of the core competencies to progress to most
intermediate techniques. Watch the video below discussing some of the nuances of applying the system so
you have greater clarity.

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Meta-checklist
This table outlines how using this technique can feel and what these feelings mean at a cognitive level. Refer
to this to make sure you understand the purpose of the technique and to improve your metacognition.
Connecting your emotional experience with the cognitive processes of learning helps you to make fine-
tuned adjustments and problem-solve any technique issues more easily.

How it can feel Cognitive outcomes

Chaotic as you go back and forth Engages more higher-order, integrative thinking. This helps to build
between questions and looking networks and relationships.
through your material.

Confusing as you try to answer Improves active learning and deeper processing of information.
your questions. Helps to improve knowledge mastery at an earlier stage.

Confusing or overwhelming as you Forces prioritisation and evaluation (one of the highest orders of
try and create a non-linear learning). Helps you connect your note-taking with your thought
structure that includes the processes.
relationships in a way that makes
sense.  Take Notes

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How it can feel Cognitive outcomes

More curiosity and a feeling of This indicates that you’re using more “cognitive resources” for the
active effort while learning. learning task. If the technique is done correctly, this translates to
more effective learning.

Insecurity and anxiety as you skip Creates mental schemas and knowledge structures in a way your
some details and learn out of brain finds most relevant rather than what someone else
order. prescribed. These feelings indicate that you are correctly ignoring
information until it is the right time. The right time to back to learn
it is when the information has become more relevant.

Task
The traffic light system is a very good beginner’s practice technique for inquiry-based learning. The skills you
learn from doing this will be directly transferable to other study methods we will learn later on.

Use the traffic light system to study any topic. Return once you’re comfortable. If this is the first time you
are trying inquiry-based learning, you may need to practice this system for a week or more (approximately
20 hours of studying time using this).

How do you fit this into your existing study technique? Simply replace your normal method of
studying with this completely. There is an overwhelmingly high chance that trying to simply modify
your current method of studying (if it is non-inquiry-based) will prevent you from developing the skill
properly. This simple method of studying, combined with the basic guidelines we introduced earlier,
are enough to achieve excellent marks at the high school level.

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An idea means nothing, the value is in the execution. Have you completed the 
task?

Yes, I've completed the task!

With greater competency, all skills will feel more natural as you form new habits and unlearn old ones.

Additional Worksheet
It can be difficult to learn a topic like maths (or even chemistry) differently from how you are used to
studying. Here is a worksheet created by one of our students, reviewed and approved by our team, that you
can use to solve some of the mistakes you might make while working through maths problems.

Although this is given to you under the context of maths problem-solving, you can use the same
approach for mistakes made for any subject!

This same worksheet will be given to you again in Ascent 2, as a reminder.

Problem Solving Worksheet – Maths Download

How are you feeling?

342 responses

Love Mind-blown Confused Weary Crying

199 107 15 15 6

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Join the discussion

{} [+]

747 COMMENTS  Most Voted 

Chai Tanya
 1 year ago

Oh, that is how I have been learning all my life! (I’m a seasoned professional and never studied the
conventional way). I recently took up studies for seniors but they consisted of hours of info-stakkato-
lectures each day, and I wasn’t able to retain or learn anything that way, that’s why I took this course.
And in fact just a few days ago I decided ‘whatever, I’ll just ignore all that textbook and lectures structure
and follow my natural curiosity instead. That way I’ll learn and retain at least what matters most to me
organically and much more easily too’ – and immediately enjoyed the studies again. It’s a very pleasant
surprise to see this explained as a technique, and I… Read more »
31 Reply

Aqsa Kothiwala
 2 years ago

Hey, how would we do the traffic light technique if it is like a lecture or a video in which the person
explains something in a specific order that is different to the order of your question? Would you just
watch the entire video from start to finish (in the order that they created) or would you go through the
video in different portions so that it fits the order of your questions and you can answer them in your
own order (not the order of the video)? Thanks
11 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Aqsa Kothiwala  2 years ago

It depends on what the lecture/video [Link] use the traffic light system for every topic. So if the
video covers 2 topics, you do the traffic light system twice – once for each topic.
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1 Reply

Derrick Mah
 2 years ago

Do you have to answer all the questions in green before making new questions in red, or can you answer
one question and then go back to red to form some more questions, then answer those new questions,
and then go onto answering the other questions?

 Last edited 2 years ago by Derrick Mah

8 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Derrick Mah  2 years ago

You don’t have to answer all the questions before going back to red. Please switch freely from green
light to red light as you are answering the questions. If a question suddenly hits you while you are
answering a question, please immediately switch to red light and write down the inspired question.
Then switch back to green and continue to answering the questions.

20 Reply

Louis Huynh
 2 years ago

Hello,
If we’re learning through the textbook and the textbook has questions, can we use those questions along
with creating our own? Or should we avoid using textbook questions?
Thanks
7 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Louis Huynh  2 years ago

Hi Louis,
You may use the questions in the textbook to ‘inspire’ your own queries and questions about the topic.
Using the entire question itself as an enquiry is not usually done as the entire question can usually be
broken up into several parts, which then, you can form your inquiry-based learning.

11 Reply
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Louis Huynh
 Reply to Ashton Sheares  2 years ago

Ah okay, thanks!

1 Reply

Kevin Zambrano
 1 year ago

Funny enough, I have been using this for a while because it felt natural to me. I remember watching a
video about Elon Musk talking about “First Principles” which is also a philosophical method of reducing
things to the smallest principles (that we know to be not false) and working out. Essentially it’s zooming
out & “system thinking” but w/ Justin’s way you following a more natural path that also has hierarchy but
isn’t only restricted to hierarchy and also allows for more lateral connections (as well as other types). I
ended up following a similar method to go through YCombinator’s school as well as other fountains of
information. What I did not have at the time, was the use… Read more »
5 Reply

Kineret Amit
 4 months ago

Questions about the worksheet:

1. What the SF CF CU means? at the format examples.

2. What is the connection\relationship between the Traffic Light system and the worksheet? It seems not
connected at all to me therefore I think I missed something.

5 Reply

Kevin Coffey
 Reply to Kineret Amit  22 days ago

I came to the comments looking for the answer to 1. but now that you mention 2., that’s a good
question. Maybe it’s because you are ‘inquiring’ into why you missed the question, and how you can
avoid it in the future.

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Louis Huynh
 2 years ago

Hello,
The QCE system is designed in a way such that there are Units -> Topics -> Subject matter. When we’re
applying ‘inquiry-base learning’, should we start off asking questions revolved around just the subject
matter and then later, when we’re revising, ask questions revolving subject matter and topic?
Thank you in advance
3 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Louis Huynh  2 years ago

Hi Louis,
You use the traffic Light system for the topics. If you’re too narrow and only look at subject matter, you
may not be able to form meaningful connection between relatable subject matter. This will hinder the
inquiry-based approach.

1 Reply

Louis Huynh
 Reply to Ashton Sheares  2 years ago

Oh okay, it’s just that doing that for entire topics seems very overwhelming at the moment.
Thanks

1 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Louis Huynh  2 years ago

Don’t worry too much. You simply start with 1 subject and all you are doing is not
restricting yourself to that 1 subject matter when you’re asking questions. So if a question
pops up that relates to another subject, you will naturally move on to asking questions
about that subject and how it relates to other subjects. You will find you will naturally
cover the topic like this.

0 Reply

Mahi Modi
 1 year ago  Take Notes

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hello,
In regards to creating questions, should you read a bit about the concept first and then start making
questions because how are you supposed to create questions when you have no knowledge of what the
concept is about.
3 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Mahi Modi  1 year ago

You can read a bit (like a paragraph) to get you kickstarted, however, after prestudy, which makes you
look for keywords and group information together, that should be enough for you to already start
asking questions.
it’s normal to struggle because you have very little information in the beginning. Then as you continue
to answer those qusetions during the green light, you will further be able to ask more questions
because you will know more of the concept through the answering process.

3 Reply

Derrick Mah
 2 years ago

Should we be writing down the answers to these questions that we made during “red” in “green”? i.e
handwrite the question out, find the answer and then write it down in a fashion similar to collecting? And
then process the information?
2 Reply

Productimothy
 Reply to Derrick Mah  10 months ago

(This question is outdated)

Justin has clarified, as an update in an added video, that TLS IS the collecting step, and that it should
replace the other one. You go straight from your answer to the processed set of notes (which may be a
chunkmap).

4 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Derrick Mah  2 years ago

Yes. Otherwise you will forget.

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1 Reply

Rashmi Chandran
 1 year ago

How do we know if our questions are high-quality or not?

2 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Rashmi Chandran  1 year ago

By having more HOW and WHY questions. Questions that typical try to connect different groups of
information together.
The WHAT questions are the basic ones, it’s ok to ask them but not ONLY them.

5 Reply

Toan Truong
 3 months ago

Hello Asthon, I have a few questions about the TLS system: After I identified the questions, how much
should I stick to the textbook for the answer? (Cause I usually go to Youtube or ChatGPT for the answer)
Also related to the textbook, can I just totally rely on my curiosity for the questions? That normally takes
me down a different path compared to generating questions from the headlines. If my textbook has
different chapters, do you recommend having a TLS for each chapter? Or do we just use the keywords
from prestudy to generate all the questions? For the notes taking part, are we supposed to use the
Capture & Process first before turning it into a mindmap? Thank… Read more »
2 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Toan Truong  3 months ago

Take a look at the order control lessons that is coming out shortly and it should answer your
questions. Feel free to ask any questions if you are still curious about something.

0 Reply

Andy Jeong
 2 years ago
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Hi,
Do you recommend to finish watching the entire module (technique training) and then experimenting
the new things we’ve learnt for a week or two?
I think it is more efficient to do it that way as they can all be used at once for a solid week or two, like the
briefing stage.
Thanks
1 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Andy Jeong  2 years ago

Hi Andy,
It is much better to consolidate and make changes slowly. Watching an entire module and then trying
to implement everything at once may lead you to be overwhelmed and lose track of what you need to
change.
I advise to take things slow and consolidate each new technique or strategy before moving onto the
next lesson.

4 Reply

Nicolas Koutsandreou
 Reply to Ashton Sheares  1 year ago

Hello Ashton! As a follow up question, I understand that it’s better to practice one technique at
the time. Now, I have an enormous problem with procrastination which is not helping me
practicing this Traffic Light one. Would it be possible for me to skip to 10 and 11 (procrastination
and beds-m) and later coming back to this one ? Thank you very much, Nicolas

1 Reply

Productimothy
 Reply to Nicolas Koutsandreou  11 months ago

For those reading this much later, the BEDS-M advanced techniques were optional and
given in Fundamentals 1, so you don’t need to go forward to learn it.

 Last edited 11 months ago by Productimothy

0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Nicolas Koutsandreou  1 year ago  Take Notes

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Yes, if that’s fine but make sure you come back to this lesson. Make sure you also do any
scheduling lessons along the way as that is part of BEDSM.

1 Reply

Uday Dhillon
 2 years ago

Hi Ashton,
Can the traffic light start at the same time as prestudy? So while your prestudying and trying to organise
things, you ask a variety of questions connecting several topics that you’ve organised, then proceed to
answer them in the collecting and processing step? Or is prestudy to be done independantly, after which
traffic light system is incorporated
1 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Uday Dhillon  2 years ago

Hi Uday,
Everything is meant to be learnt and used. Defintely you can use the practices concurrently. It is
expected that for a new technique, you incorporated it into your practice and become familiar with it,
then move onto the next technique and incorportate that into your practice. These are basic
fundamental skills and you need to be familiar with these skills before we can bring it all together with
the advanced system.

0 Reply

Andy Jeong
 Reply to Ashton Sheares  2 years ago

Hi,
Do you have to physically answer the questions that you proposed? And what if the textbook or
the resources go deeper than the questions you proposed?
Thanks

0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Andy Jeong  2 years ago

Yes, you should physically write it down or you may forget. Doesn’t matter if the textbook
goes deeper, you are simply answering the question.
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0 Reply

Andy Jeong
 Reply to Ashton Sheares  2 years ago

Hi Ashton,
Then we can continue to make more questions that go deeper like the textbook
right?
And also, when you say physically write it down, can this be in the form of collect
and process?
Thanks

0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Andy Jeong  2 years ago

Yes and Yes.

“collect and process” should be something that you automatically do now when you
“take notes”, which applies to writing anything down – It’s just to simplify and make
the information as concise as possible.

0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 2 years ago

Yes, that is correct.

1 Reply

Jan Bober
 Reply to Ashton Sheares  1 year ago

Do we complete prestudy of the whole subject just once? Or do we do it at the beginning of each
learning session?

0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Jan Bober  1 year ago

You don’t have to complete it for the entire subject (that may last for a semester). But defintely
 Take Notes
do it for the topic that you are about to cover.
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In previous scheduling lessons, it was advised to prestudy the topics that you will cover 1 week
in advanced.

3 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 2 years ago

Hi Shriram,
You use the traffic-light system any time you want to learn.
This should be done after prestudy and before the lecture. Then it can be done during your lecture. Then
it can be done after your lecture when you are revising. You will find that you will learn the most when
you take this inquiry-based approach rather than just passively listening to a lecture.
1 Reply

Shriram Balachandran
 Reply to Ashton Sheares  2 years ago

So, since the lectures are pre-recorded do you think I should implement the traffic light system before
the lecture to form the framework. Then afterwards fill in the gaps by watching the lecture. But isn’t
this going back to passive way of learning by studying through a format instead of what I’m curious
about.

0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Shriram Balachandran  2 years ago

No it is not unless if you are passively watching the lecture. You need to be actively watching the
lecture by using the traffic light system. The next lesson about order control will show you how
the order you learn things will be different from the order of the lecture or textbook. This is
driven by your curiosity which is displayed in the traffic light system.

2 Reply

Shriram Balachandran
 Reply to Ashton Sheares  2 years ago

Sorry i have another question.

After we have processed our notes following pre-study, when we watch the lecture do just
continue condensing and processing our notes on the same page. How do we integrate

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both sets of notes together, or we don’t have to re-write information that we’ve
understood from the initial traffic-light system. (asking questions).

0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Shriram Balachandran  2 years ago

We have not gone into further systems yet beyond collect+process and traffic-light
systems. These are the basics you need to master now before we can teach you
more robust systems. So simply consolidate everything that is being taught and you
will be ready to learn the Bear Hunter System properly, which begins in the next
stage.

0 Reply

Shriram Balachandran
 Reply to Ashton Sheares  2 years ago

Thank you this really helped

0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Shriram Balachandran  2 years ago

No Worries

0 Reply

Zachary Tang
 2 years ago

Hey guys, what if through asking these initial inquiry questions we find that we aren’t necessarily
covering all the aspects of the topic? Would we just create new questions which are based upon what we
have missed?
1 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Zachary Tang  2 years ago

In answering questions, new curioisities will pop up, hence you switch back to red light in order to ask
Take
more questions. This will naturally bring you through the conent and learnit organically andNotes
is much

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more useful for retention.

For now, don’t worry about information that yui may miss by doing this. We will cover how to deal with
that later and it really is not an issue.

0 Reply

Keith Tolentino
 1 year ago

Hi,
When implementing the Traffic Light System, would it be wiser to go through it on a broad topic scope
basis or on a smaller subject basis (e.g. every 4 to 5 weeks) especially when you are first practising this
skill?
1 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Keith Tolentino  1 year ago

The Traffic Light System is used to dive deeper into a topic. The size of the scope is up for you to
determine.
Usually it’s prestudy that’s better with a larger scope and the Traffic Light System is for more detail into
a specific subject.

2 Reply

Keith Tolentino
 Reply to Keith Tolentino  1 year ago

Also to add on, would it be effective to include this in our prestudy routine as well? So for example,
when we are doing our pre-study session, we would create our framework, but once we create our
framework, could we have very superficial questions that can help us as well?

1 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Keith Tolentino  1 year ago

The Traffic Light Systems needs to be separated from prestudy. You prestudy first. The AFTER,
you use the TLS.
Those very superficial questions you are asking, might still be for prestudy.

5 Reply
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Helena Knack
 3 months ago

Is it necessary to write down the questions when you’re at red? For example, I tried to apply inquiry-
based learning during a pre-study session to figure out a mindmap structure. As I was trying to find the
relationships between concepts and how they were related, I didn’t see the need to write down any
questions as one would lead me to the other and form instantaneously in my mind. I would have a
question in mind, try to answer it, a new question would form, I try to answer it and so on. Most of the
questions I asked and then googled were “How is _ useful?”, “What is the difference between _ and _?”,
“Why is _ important?”, “Examples… Read more »
1 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Helena Knack  3 months ago

Writing your questions down makes it easier for you to reflect on what you have asked and also allows
others to see your inquiry process in order to give you better feedback.
All you are doing is typing out the questions that you are asking, so it’s a very benefical step especially
in the early stages or when seeking feedback.

1 Reply

Cristina Hamre
 3 months ago

Hello,
Should we pre-study before doing the red-light / green-light exercise?
Would an appropriate way of scheduling for this be: Pre-study in the time allocated for it in the schedule,
then create the traffic-light questions within the pre-study block of time and then use the time allocated
for actual studying to answer the questions?
1 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Cristina Hamre  3 months ago

Prestudy should be the start to your studying session and you should use red light/green light in your
prestudy. Ask the questions about the main ideas that you have in your prestudy

5 Reply

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Tanzeer
 2 years ago

When asking questions and answering them, should we be doing this using physical pen and paper or a
note-taking software online?
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Tanzeer  2 years ago

If you have a digital drawing tool like ipad or wacom, we do recommend using that. A physical pen and
paper is a little harder to keep neat as you can’t erase as easily. However, both tools will be able to
complete the task.

0 Reply

arinze ngonadi
 Reply to Ashton Sheares  1 year ago

Ok can you reccomend a wacom tool less than $100

0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to arinze ngonadi  1 year ago

Different places have different availability. You can also look up second hand goods for
lower cost.

1 Reply

Yogesh Subramanian
 2 years ago

Hi,
In conjunction with the “collecting and processing” notetaking method taught in the briefing stage, would
that occur during the green in the traffic light system when we’re trying to find answers to the question
we proposed.
Thanks
0 Reply

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Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Yogesh Subramanian  2 years ago

Hi Yogesh,
For the “green light” please don’t heavily process the information like you’re trying to memorise and
take detailed notes. The “collecting and proccessing” indeed is trying to prevent you from doing this by
just looking for keywords and simplifying the information into your own words/symbols.
You should think that answering questions is more conversational, as if you’re talking to a friend or
parent – something that is more natural.

1 Reply

Derrick Mah
 Reply to Ashton Sheares  2 years ago

So should we be using the collecting and processing steps when doing inquiry-based learning, or
is inquiry based learning separate from this? Collecting information seems a lot like overeating
which is what Justin said not to do.

0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Derrick Mah  2 years ago

That is absolutely the opposite. The “collecting and processing” method is the initial stages
to PREVENT you from ‘overeating’ by reorganising information that you find and making it
as simple as possible.
So when you are answering the questions in green light, you do not copy and paste vast
amounts of text, but collect and process it to be as concise as possible. I recommend that
you go back to the “Notes and processing” lesson and ensure you know the theory of
“collecting and processing”.

2 Reply

Derrick Mah
 Reply to Ashton Sheares  2 years ago

So basically what we are supposed to do is pose questions about a topic, answer

them and then “collect” the answer to them in green. But are we also supposed to
process the information that we have collected afterwards?

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Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Derrick Mah  2 years ago

Please do not worry about “collect and process” for now. This was something that
Yogesh realised that he could combine with inquiry-based learning and it is a
concept that we will be delving deeper into the future.
Please just stick to what is outlined in this lesson and use the traffic light system in a
way that is comfortable to you. We will be refining the way you use the traffic light
system later.

1 Reply

Andy Jeong
 2 years ago

Hi Justin,
So do we formulate questions, directly answer them if they are ‘answerable’, and then formulate more
questions and then continue the cycle?
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Andy Jeong  2 years ago

Yes, as described in this video.

0 Reply

Derrick John
 2 years ago

should we just use one page for questions then collect and process separately, or should we write the
question then collect and process underneath? Or is it just a matter of choice?
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Derrick John  2 years ago

Hi Derrick, It really doesn’t matter at this point, you simply need to be accustomed to the two “lights”.
We will give more detail later on about how to structure inquiry-based learning once you have become
accustomed to the basics.
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0 Reply

James Liu
 2 years ago

Hello,
“Use the traffic light system to study any topic. Return once you’re comfortable. If this is the first time
you are trying inquiry-based learning, you may need to practice this system for a week or more
(approximately 20 hours of studying time using this).”
Just making sure, I only move on to the next topic after having experience with this system right? Or will
the next topic help me with learning this technique.
Thanks
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to James Liu  2 years ago

In general, please consolidate the technqiues taught in this lesson before moving on. The next lesson
is still about inquiry-based learning, but it would that you try it a few times before moving to the next
lesson as usually future lessons will build upon previous lessons.

6 Reply

Angeline Reed
 2 years ago

For a subject like maths, by using the traffic light system to learn a topic – Do we create these questions
on the theory, formulas and proofs. Then after we did that – do we complete the normal textbook
questions in that exercise? What about the worked examples in that chapter to??
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Angeline Reed  2 years ago

For Maths, you indeed ask questions about the Maths, whether it’s the theories, formulas,
applications, proofs, corollaries, etc. After this, you go and answer YOUR questions. That’s all you do at
this point. Please continue to find out what to do next in order to build upon these basics.
You really do not worry about questions in the textbook in this process as they really don’t help too
much in the initial learning of the topic. We’ll address this practice questions later on in the course.

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Vanessa Limans
 2 years ago

For maths, in creating my own questions, do I also create questions which can be physically solved, as in
actual math questions like in the text book, or is it just asking worded questions based on the
theory/formulas to help form relationships?
Is it that solving these problems are to make relationships to understand the topic better and also to
know you understand a subject by trying to create your own question, or is it just to build relationships?
Thank you.

 Last edited 2 years ago by Vanessa Limans

0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Vanessa Limans  2 years ago

It’s more than just creating Math questions for Maths. It’s really finding all the questions and problems
to understand Maths in any relatedable knowledge that you have. We will cover this in a future lesson.

1 Reply

Chamindie Punyadeera
 2 years ago

Hi
I am not sure if I really understand this.
So do we first ask questions about the specific text that we want to know.
Then when we answer these questions, we collect and then process them which would allow for
connections to be made with other questions?
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Chamindie Punyadeera  2 years ago

Hi Chamindie,
That’s right. Any time you are learning something, we want you to use this traffic light system of
specifically making questions and then answering them.

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Chamindie Punyadeera
 2 years ago

Hi,
I was just wondering if the course will explain how to use this system for languages?
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Chamindie Punyadeera  2 years ago

There are examples later on

0 Reply

Bhuvie Ragu
 2 years ago

Hi Justin!
Currently my notes are not linear in terms of the order of the topic given, my notes are all based off the
order of my questions I ask in the red traffic lights, whereas my processing is grouping the information I
have learnt in no particular order and finding connections between the groups I made after my
processing, is this correct? Thanks!
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Bhuvie Ragu  2 years ago

It’s a good start. This is just the basics, which does seem like you fulfil. Remember to keep this in mind
as you go forward in the course.

0 Reply

Uday Parmar
 2 years ago

Hi,
I have a few questions. First of all, should we be using the traffic light system in tandem with Collecting
and Processing (i.e. using both techniques), or should we only use the traffic light system from here on
out? If we should be using both systems, then which one do you recommend doing first (traffic light
system, then collecting and processing, or vice versa)?
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0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Uday Parmar  2 years ago

Yes. Anytime you need to write study notes down, you should use collect and process. So when
answering things in green light, it’s best to represent the information as concise as possible.

0 Reply

Tilak Vakkalagadda
 2 years ago

How would we know that we are learning the right content using this method, as we would not be
required to go through our textbooks because we can just search up our questions online?
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Tilak Vakkalagadda  2 years ago

This is just the basics, you will learn more powerful tools later on and realise how it does cover
everything needed. But in order to use those techniques, you must first master this.

0 Reply

Vibhav Lall
 2 years ago

I just want to confirm that my understanding is correct for how to apply the traffic light system. So I first
collect keywords from my text book of a concept. Then I form groups with these keywords and link them
with each other to make groups the way my brain likes them. Then only after I have completed this I
make my questions and start to fill in each of my groups the way my brain wants to fill them. Is this right
or am I doing things wrong? I just don’t want to leave it up to chance so I’m double checking.
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Vibhav Lall  2 years ago

That’s right, note that you can read the text below the lesson for a summary of the video lesson.

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Hasnain Bhurawala
 2 years ago

Hi Ashton,
When implementing the traffic light system, do we just write all the questions that we possibly have and
then once we run out of possible questions, we move on to the green and answer them? OR do we write
one question then answer it and write another question after and repeat the process?
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Hasnain Bhurawala  2 years ago

Doesn’t really matter. You can do a mix of both.

0 Reply

Vibhav Lall
 2 years ago

Hey I just wanted to clarify something. I’m finding that it takes me a really long time to get through this
process, but the things is I pretty much remember everything I do (which is a very big achievement for
me). So I’m just worried that although I do remember everything that I won’t be able to keep up with the
time and that I’ll move too slowly. Any advice?
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Vibhav Lall  2 years ago

Invest more time to progress through the course. You will save more time later if you consolidate the
techniques in the course earlier.

0 Reply

Piper Seale
 2 years ago

Hi, should I be creating questions in the red section and then answering them (in green section) using
the note taking process previously learnt. Thank you
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Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Piper Seale  2 years ago

Yes. You split your learning to “green light” and “red light” – asking questions then answering
questions.

0 Reply

Jhanavi Patel
 2 years ago

Hi, In this lesson, Justin talks about making questions for a topic, answering them and then from the new
learnt information making more questions to answer. So when we are doing collecting and processing or
just learning information, do we not follow the order the information is supposed to flow in? Do we just
focus on finding the answer and not worry about the other information that is related to that? Will be be
missing details and some information?
Thanks
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Jhanavi Patel  2 years ago

You just focus on asking and answering questions. Red light and green light. Do not pay attention to
strictly following the order the information is given. Just naturally ask and answer questions that you
have.

0 Reply

Jhanavi Patel
 Reply to Ashton Sheares  2 years ago

Wouldn’t we be missing detailed information this way? What if there is a piece of information
that we don’t ask a question for?

0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Jhanavi Patel  2 years ago

This is an insecurity that people have. But the advanced system naturally eliminates this.
We will address this issue later on down the track to show you that it is not a problem
using the new system.  Take Notes

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1 Reply

Jhanavi Patel
 Reply to Ashton Sheares  2 years ago

Sure Thank you. I just had another quick question. So do we create the connections
(connecting information by finding patterns or just connections in general) when we
are doing the prestudy step (so just when we are skimming over the textbook and
grouping together key words) or when we are asking questions (so do we link up
questions that we think relate)?
Hope that makes sense.

0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Jhanavi Patel  2 years ago

I do not see a difference between your two definitions of “connections”. So just find
any connection.
Prestudy is forming groups so natturally you will be finding connections there.
Traffic light system is applied after prestudy, when you are look at the material in
more detail.

0 Reply

Jhanavi Patel
 Reply to Ashton Sheares  2 years ago

Sure, I will keep that in mind. When in a classroom setting, how can we go only
answer questions, don’t you have to follow the teacher’s order?

0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Jhanavi Patel  2 years ago

I don’t think you quite understand what it is to make connections. As your teacher is
speaking, you are trying to understand and process what is being taught. Someone
who blindly listens and copies down word for word what is said will learn very little.
Someone who asks these questions and answers them will make connections and
follow the learning theories that we have shown in the previous lessons. They will
have a much better position in understanding the things being taught by the
teacher.
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0 Reply

Matthew Zhang
 2 years ago

Hi,
When we’re asking questions, are we just limited to the textbook we’re using, or are we allowed to
receive information from a different platform, e.g. google. I’m afraid that if I keep asking more questions,
I may deviate from the actual topic.
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Matthew Zhang  2 years ago

You do not have to use the textbook, you can use other mediums. It is fine to deviate a little bit, we
address this issue specifically later on.

0 Reply

Hasnain Bhurawala
 2 years ago

Hi Ashton,
When we answer the questions and go to green, is it necessary to process the answer like we did in the
notes+processing steps and avoid conventional linear answers?
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Hasnain Bhurawala  2 years ago

Yes. Please also do the collect and process for anything that you write down.

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Farhan Rafi
 2 years ago

After repeating the cycle multiple times and we dont have any questions left. Should we then go through
the chapter and fill in the rest of the notes?
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Farhan Rafi  2 years ago

No. Once you have consolidated the traffic-light system, you move onto the next lesson.

0 Reply

Farhan Rafi
 2 years ago

And should we use the system for a whole chapter or for each sub chapter? E.g. galvanic cells or
electrochemistry as a whole?
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Farhan Rafi  2 years ago

It depends on how large the chapter/subchapter is. Generally stick to entire chapters.

0 Reply

Farhan Rafi
 2 years ago

Once we have repeated the process and cannot think of any new questions, should we go through the
content to fill any gaps we have missed?
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Farhan Rafi  2 years ago

Hi Farhan,
Yes you do indeed do that, however the exact process of doing this (askingquestionsTake
and finding
Notesgaps

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later) will be explained in detail in the system that we will be teaching you very shortly.

0 Reply

Jordan Zorzi
 2 years ago

Can I apply this technique to a subject such as English, where one would typically study a text for a few
weeks before answering questions about it in an assignment such as an essay?
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Jordan Zorzi  2 years ago

Yes, it is applied to ANYTHING that requires learning.

0 Reply

Henry Wang
 2 years ago

Hi, I wanted to ask if the questions we ask ourselves are questions like why is this information important
or do we ask ourselves questions about the material learnt?
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Henry Wang  2 years ago

Both, you ask questions about everything and how it is related to other things.

0 Reply

Ali Syed
 2 years ago

Hi,
Should we use the “collecting and process” note-taking method for the “green” section? And should we
complete the “red” section before “learning” it in class or from a textbook? I want to incorporate this
technique with prestudy. Apologies if these questions have been asked.
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Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Ali Syed  2 years ago

Yes. Collect & Process is done anytime you need to write down information.
The traffic-light system should be done as often as possible. If you have time, we do recommend that
you do it before your class. This will make class time more fruitful as it is not your first time seeing the
new concepts.

0 Reply

Kav Welgama
 2 years ago

Hi Ashton/Justin,
In the Red Light stage, do we start forming questions on our first topic by looking at the prestudy we
have made? For example, once we have completed our prestudy, do we start forming questions for one
“chunk” and then, after answering these question, move on the next “chunk” in our prestudy and ask
further relationship-building questions from there?
Cheers,
Kav

 Last edited 2 years ago by Kav Welgama

0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Kav Welgama  2 years ago

Yes, that is correct.

0 Reply

Kav Welgama
 Reply to Ashton Sheares  2 years ago

Thanks Ashton

0 Reply

Areej Mukhi
 2 years ago

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Hey Ashton, So basically when doing inquiry based learning should I be doing this so red light thinking
about what questions to ask and green light answering them and than moving onto the next topic
And how do I implement this into collecting and processing. So do I like for collecting write questions
done answer them and than process them on the other side showing relation and stuff simplifying them
And for Maths should I be should I be doing inquiry based learning before looking at the work examples
or after I look at the work examples
And if I cant find a answer to one question shall I google it?
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Areej Mukhi  2 years ago

The traffic-light system is directing what questions you should be asking and answering. So it allows
you to dive into the content in order to learn a topic.
Collecting and processing is the way represent the information when you write things down. So when
you find the answers to your questions in the traffic-light system, you represent the information using
the collect+process technique.
Irrespective for Maths or any subject, you grab the entire topic and use the traffic light system. Worked
examples would just be part of the topic.
If you can’t find the answer in the material that you have, please do look at other resources to answer
your question.

0 Reply

Layla Zerkani
 2 years ago

Do we do inquiry-based learning after we’ve made the chunks during prestudy?

0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Layla Zerkani  2 years ago

Yes, prestudy is done first.

0 Reply

Zachary Tang
 2 years ago

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So when applying the traffic light system, would we just briefly go over certain headings which do not
relate to the question we asked.
And are the styles of the questions we ask, similar to the ‘why is it important?’, ‘How can we use this?’ and
‘How can we apply this information?’ We learnt previously?

 Last edited 2 years ago by Zachary Tang

0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Zachary Tang  2 years ago

Hi Zachary, in answering your questions during green light, you are focused on answering the
questions that you have. Things that are not related to answering the question is indeed skimmed
over.
Those are indeed the types of questions you ask, which is why it has been covered previously. We will
slowly be builting upon the basics so what you have learnt before, you will find is quite relevant,
making it easier to implement these techniques.

0 Reply

Jayan Shrestha
 1 year ago

Hey Ashton,
Just wondering, if we use pre-study before the traffic light system, I tend to pre-study the concepts in the
order my teacher has set, would this prevent the organic way of learning we are trying to achieve?
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Jayan Shrestha  1 year ago

For prestudy, you simply need to group together information. Don’t worry too much about order, just
find what is natural to you. To prevent a reliance on teacher material, remember to use other material
in your prestudy, like textbooks.

0 Reply

Jayan Shrestha
 Reply to Ashton Sheares  1 year ago

Thank you Ashton!

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0 Reply

Mahi Modi
 1 year ago

hello,
when we are reading through a source of information and we have just created a few questions, should
we only be collecting information relevant to our question or can we collect additional information too?
Thank you
0 Reply

Ashton Sheares Admin

 Reply to Mahi Modi  1 year ago

Let it be a natural process of learning and collect what you feel naturally curious about as you are
trying to learn the topic. So don’t restrict your questioning or collection of information because you are
afraid it will go out of scope, if it arises in your naturally process, just proceed with it

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