Warner, A., Myers, B. (2008). Implementing inquiry-based teaching methods. Department of Agricultural Education and Communication Florida Cooperative Extension Service.
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. University of Florida. AEC395.
This article provides basic guidelines and strategies for implementing inquiry-based teaching methods. It suggests “the teacher’s role is starting the inquiry process, promoting student dialog, transitioning between small group and class discussions, intervening to clear misconceptions or develop students’ understanding of content material, modeling scientific procedures and attitudes, and utilizing student experiences to create new content knowledge.” Teachers need to decide how much guidance is needed to accomplish these goals. The main goal inquiry is student engagement during the learning process. There are six stages to the inquiry cycle:
Inquisition: stating a “what if” question to be investigated
Acquisition: brainstorming possible procedures
Supposition: identifying an “I think” statement to test
Implementation: designing and carrying out a plan
Summation: collecting evidence and drawing conclusions
Exhibition: sharing and communicating the results (Llewellyn, 2002, p13-14)
There are two models: Guided Discovery and The 5-E Model. Guided Discovery involves teachers providing the concrete materials and questions and allowing the students to explore and discover the answers. “The 5-E model focuses on the five phases of engagement, exploration, explanation, elaboration, and evaluation.” Each step builds on the next. It concludes with an example of a 5-E lesson plan.
14. Teacher’s Professional Development for Inquiry-Based Learning
Hofstein, A. (2012). Teacher’s professional development for inquiry-based learning. Student Active Learning in Science: Collection of papers from SALiS Final
Conference. August 29-30, 2012. 92-96
This article discussed the benefits of using an inquiry-based learning approach in the science lab. It suggested designing laboratory activities that provide opportunities to “ask questions, suggest hypothesis, and design investigations ‘minds-on as well as hands-on.’” The teachers designing these inquiry-based laboratory experiments underwent intensive professional development to ensure they understood how to construct these types of activities. The teachers involved in this study exhibited the following characteristics: encouraged student collaboration, guide students in inquiry process by asking higher order questions, use alternative assessment methods, differentiate student learning, and align the experiment with concepts taught in the class. Teachers were also asked questions by students that they may not have the answer to and the teachers needed to be understanding to the fact that they may not have all the answers to the questions asked by their students. The teachers followed a continuous professional development (CPD) model. The CPD model supports teachers so they can reflect and learn about how new practices can be evolved or molded from existing classroom practice. It involves the teacher reshaping their own beliefs about teaching learning. One main difference is this method of professional development is the opportunities to reflect on his/her own classroom practices during and after implementation of the new technique. The collaboration with other teachers also engaging in inquiry-based learning is another important aspect of this method of professional development.
15. Inquiry Based Learning: A Curriculum Innovation Examined
Mazzulla, J. (2011). Inquiry based learning: A curriculum innovation examined. Retrieved from: http://www.mzmazz003.com/uploads/1/4/5/1/14519762
/curriculum_innovation_essay.pdf
This article discusses a curriculum innovation that the author would like to use to change the culture of the classroom. He suggests that the innovation needs to be something that stays novel and new as not to lose the students’ interest. He believes that inquiry based learning may be the key to changing the classroom climate. He feels that since the learning is student driven it will keep their interest and can be differentiated to meet each student’s needs. Since students have control it will encourage engagement and motivation to dig deeper into the topic. “By allowing an innovation to evolve to meet the needs of the individual school, teacher, or class, it permits an innovation to undergo improvement by those who use it and be tailored to meet the needs of those who will be taught using the innovation respecting the culture that exists in the school.” The author provides a plan for implementation to ensure teachers have what they need in place to change instruction.
16. An Inquiry Primer
Colburn, A. (2000). An inquiry primer. Science Scope. 42-44. Retrieved from: http://www.experientiallearning.ucdavis.edu/module2/el2-60-primer.pdf
This article discussed how science education has embraced inquiry-based instruction. The author poses this question after hearing of its importance from science educators: “Why aren’t more teachers using it in their classrooms?” The answers ranged from confusion over what inquiry is to difficult to manage. His definition of inquiry-based instruction covers several different approaches. These include structured, guided, open, and learning cycle. He addresses the question: “Is inquiry only for bright kids?” He explains that inquiry often requires hypothetical/deductive reasoning and concrete thinkers have difficulty with developing an understanding of abstract concepts so these could be obstacles to inquiry-based learning. Some suggestions for overcoming these obstacles include choosing activities that focus on concrete observable concepts, focusing on questions that can be answered through observation, use materials and situations common to the students, and choose activities that are in line with the students’ skills. This article also focuses on the teacher’s role in inquiry-based learning. Teachers need to believe in the value of having student control of their learning. It gives suggestions on how to guide students through questioning and managing the classroom.
Twenty-First Century Skills
17. The Global Achievement Gap: Why even our best schools don't teach the new survival skills our children need - and what we can do about it.
Wagner, T, (2008). The global achievement gap: Why even our best schools don’t teach the new survival skills our children need – and what we can do about it. New York, NY: Basic Books.
This book discusses the seven survival skills our students need for the 21st century. The seven survival skills include: critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration across networks and leading by influence, agility and adaptability, initiative and entrepreneurship, effective oral and written communication, assessing and analyzing information, and curiosity and imagination. It explains each skill in-depth and offers suggestions for teaching students these 21st century skills. It also explains why it is so important that our students possess these skills.
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