Lesson 3: Spirit of Inquiry
Lesson #3: Spirit of Inquiry
What does the spirit of inquiry mean? In its simplest terms’ inquiry is the art of asking questions. How we ask questions either furthers our understanding of concepts or provides a framework for conducting deeper research into concept or challenging problem. We ask questions to discover as well as ask questions to clarify.
Start by reading the article by Trevor McKenzie
https://www.edutopia.org/article/bringing-inquiry-based-learning-into-your-class-trevor-mackenzie
You may now see a difference between inquiry approaches in your classroom. Are you using structured, controlled, guided, or free inquiry more often? Remember that it is a scale of both student need and student aptitude. Are some students ready to swim in the dep end or do they still need those supports? Questions to think about as you design your inquiry lessons.
One of the ways we can support students in building good inquiry skills is building their ability to ask good questions. One of those models is the Question Formulation Technique out of the Right Question Institute.
Question Formulation – Students building autonomy in building better questions
First read the article by The Teacher Center (2009)
https://ctl.wustl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Asking-questions-to-improve-learning.pdf
Then, watch this video – https://youtu.be/04cHyeUVuKg
Reflection Moment: How might developing this practice encourage student discourse in your classroom?
Performance Task: Create a QFT for your students to use. Choose whichever subject you wish to create the QFT for. Follow the QFT model steps in developing the QFT. If you need assistance you can search QFT model examples for further discovery.
Please complete the final assessment "3 - 2 - 1 Reflection" - That concludes the end of this mini-course! I hope that you gained something from this. For more information be sure to check out resources linked to deepen your understanding.
Page References:
MacKenzie, T. (2016, December 1). Bringing Inquiry-Based Learning Into Your Class. Edutopia.Org. https://www.edutopia.org/article/bringing-inquiry-based-learning-into-your-class-trevor-mackenzie
The Teaching Center. (2018). Asking Questions to Improve Learning. Washington University. https://ctl.wustl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Asking-questions-to-improve-learning.pdf
The Question Formulation Technique in 90 Seconds. (2019, June 3). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04cHyeUVuKg&feature=youtu.be