Balancing Inquiry in the Classroom

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Balancing Inquiry in the Classroom

• Molly Durant
• Sara Edgein
• Karren Kandel
• Beth McHenry
• Liza Parkison
• Mary-Lou Sarber
• Kelly VanArsdalen

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Balancing Inquiry in the Classroom
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What is inquiry?

• Inquiry is
• a way of seeking new information, clarifying,
  confirming, rejecting, connecting, applying all
  of these are inquiry acts
• (Lindfors, 1999, p.9)
• ultimate acts of going beyond going beyond
  present understanding (intellectual) going
  beyond self to engage the help of another
  (social) but ever going beyond as self
  (personal) (Lindfors, 1999, p.4)
• the newest version of thematic teaching
• (Wills, 1995, p. 261)

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Focus Questions

• What is inquiry?
• How do we incorporate inquiry into various
  subjects?
• How can we connect within the standards?
• How can we find good resources?
• How can we manage inquiry?

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The Teachers Role in Inquiry

• Tour Guide guiding students to search for
  answers and take responsibility for learning
• Information Booth Directing students to locate
  and use various sources
• Detective Artfully questions students about
  their progress, observes ongoing work, and
  records observations
• Coach Gives instruction on specific skills,
  makes a game plan

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How would you get started in inquiry?

• A) Tell the students what to do
• B) Assign an inquiry project and tell the
  students its due in two weeks
• C) Go to the library and turn the students loose
• D) Involve the students in all aspects from goals
  to assessment

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For effective inquiry

• For a project involve students in
• establishing goals
• creating a rubric
• doing KWHL (questioning)
• reaching an audience
• establishing an outline time frame
• For a classroom activity involve students by
• activating prior knowledge
• seeking out their curiosity
• allowing choice
• using questioning techniques to fuel learning

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Inquiry can be

• Teacher directed
• Child directed
• Teacher and child co-directed

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How can we incorporate inquiry into various
subjects?

• Plan with your team (grade level) teachers and
  resource teachers on projects.
• Utilize literature and technology resources in
  all subject areas to aid inquiry.
• Consult content standards for topics that have
  natural connections between subjects.

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How do we find good resources?

• Books
• People
• Experiments
• Web pages
• Discussion groups on and off the internet
• E-mail
• Chat rooms
• Libraries online
• Online events

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Remember..

• Resources must also be checked for validity
  (especially online).
• If enough sources are looked at, non-valid sites
  become easy to identify.

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How can we connect within the standards?

• Content Standards
• Social Studies
• Science
• Mathematics
• Language Arts
• Foreign Language
• The Arts

• Relation to Inquiry
• Social Studies skills and methods
• Scientific Inquiry
• Problem-solving
• Research
• Connections
• Dance, Drama, V.A., Music

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Abilities Needed to do Inquiry

• Asking questions
• Planning an investigation
• Gathering data
• Use data to construct an explanation
• Communicate explanation

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How can we manage inquiry?

• Time
• Predetermine time allotted daily or weekly
• Be prepared to extend lesson if not completed by
  scheduled time

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Behavior Assessment

• Rubrics
• Daily journal entries
• Self-evaluation

• Group students accordingly
• Follow regular classroom procedures

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Benefits

• Meets students learning styles
• (auditory, visual, tactile, and kinesthetic)
• Can be done on a variety of instructional levels
• Easily meets content standards for all subjects
• Creates high interest and motivates student
  learning

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Conclusion

• Inquiry should be included in all subjects, in
  all grade levels, with the teacher as a
  facilitator. Students will benefit by gaining
  ownership of their own learning while developing
  critical thinking skills.

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Our Inquiries

• Molly Durant
• using inquiry based learning in kindergarten
• Sara Edgein
• inquiry reading
• Karren Kandel
• Are math standards compromised when teachers
  use inquiry?
• Beth McHenry
• inquiry lessons for 1st grade
• Liza Parkison
• inquiry within science standards
• Mary-Lou Sarber
• Kelly VanArsdalen
• integrating technology and inquiry-based
  learning

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Bibliography

• Beaver, J. Finson, K., Jensen, M., Maroney, S.
  (2003). Preparing for successful inquiry in
  inclusive science classrooms. TEACHING
  Exceptional Chilren, 36 (1), P. 18-25.
• Borasi, R., Fonzi, J., and Siegel, M. (1998).
  Supporting students mathematical inquiries
  through reading. Journal for Research in
  Mathematics Education, 29 (4) 378-413.
• http//www.eduref.org
• The Educators Reference Desk
• Edwards, C. (1997). Promoting student inquiry.
  The Science Teacher, 64 (7), 18, 20-21.
  Retrieved March 8, 2004 from www.exploratorium.edu
  .
• National Academy of Science (2000). Inquiry and
  the National Science Education Standards.
  Washington, D.D. National Academy Press.
• Tower, C. (2000). Questions that Matter
  Preparing elementary students for the inquiry
  process. The Reading Teacher, 53 (7), 550-557.