Focus on Faculty:Promoting Interactive, Inquiry-based Environments in

Online Education

Presenters:

Vince Schreck, Instructional Designer, CAEProfessor Dan Johnson, Geography

Introductions

Vince Schreck, Ed.D.- Background in teaching and learning- Instructional design work

- Why do you want to work with an Instructional Designer?

Dan Johnson, Ph.D.- Professor of Geography- CLAS Director of Online Programs

What is Inquiry-based Learning?

“A student-centered, active learning approach focusing on questioning, critical thinking, and problem-solving. It's associated with the idea - involve me and I understand.” http://annettelamb.com/tap/topic43.htm

An Inquiry-based Process

Learner asks questionor questions

Questions lead to the desire for answers to the question (or for solutions to a problem) and result in the beginning of exploration and hypotheses creation

Hypotheses lead to an investigation to test the hypothesis/es or find answers and solutions to the question and/or problem

The investigation leads to the creation or construction of new knowledge based on investigation of findings

The learner discusses and reflects on this newly-acquired knowledge, which, in turn leads to more questions and further investigation

http://www.inquirylearn.com/Inquirydef.htm

Inquiry-based Learning - Research

“Several Studies have found that inquiry-based teaching & learning methods positively affect student performance (e.g., Thacker et al. 1994; Magnussen Ishido, and Itano 2000), and education reforms recommend incorporating inquiry into the classroom (NRC 2000)” Ciancioio 2006.

Thacker et al (1994) study “Comparing problem solving performance of physics Students in Inquiry-based and traditional introductory physics courses.”

- Compared problem solving (both quantitative and qualitative) between traditional, physics students, and non-major physics students in a course emphasizing inquiry- based problem solving.

-The elementary majors “…performed significantly better than engineering students and as well as the honors physics students on the two problems (quant./qual) used” Thacker et al (1994).

Inquiry-based Learning - ResearchMagnussen Ishido, and Itano (2000). The impact of the

use of inquiry-based learning as a teaching methodology on the development of critical thinking.

Recognition of Assumptions, deduction, interpretations, evaluation of arguments.

- University of Hawaii school of nursing. 50% of courses, at the time of the study, had integrated IBL tutorial sessions.

- Over a 4 year period, not all students showed improvements in critical thinking skills, and some scores declined from pre to post test.

- The study did show that students who performed poorly on the pre test, showed improvement after the post test. This occurred in a similar study “Flannelly and Inouye (1998).”

- “In summary, the results suggest that this methodology appeared to be more effective in developing critical thinking skills for students whose scores were low.”

Inquiry-based Learning - Research

Cianciolo, J. Flory, L. Atwell, J. (2006). Evaluating the use of inquiry-based activities: Do student and teacher behaviors really change?

- Compared and inquiry-based Biology course with a more traditional, lecture-based classroom. Purpose was to determine the extent to which inquiry-based activities promoted inquiry-associated behaviors in both teachers and students.

- Study found inquiry behaviors occurred more frequently during inquiry-based activities than during recitation sessions where traditional teaching methods were implemented. Study also found that that teachers can also foster inquiry even in traditional settings.

Inquiry-based Learning - Resources

Magnussen L., D. Ishida, and J. Itano. 2000. The impact of the use of inquiry-based learning as a teaching methodology on the development of critical thinking. Journal of Nursing Education 39 (8): 360-64.

National Research Council (NRC). 2000. Inquiry and the national science educationstandards. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Thacker B., E. Kim, K. Trefz and S.M. Lea. 1994. Comparing problem solvingPerformance of physics students in inquiry-based and traditional introductoryPhysics courses. American Journal of Physics 62 (7): 627-33.

Flannelly, L. & Inouye, J. (1998). Inquiry-based learning and critical thinking in anAdvanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing Program. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing,12(3), 1-8.

Cianciolo, J. Flory, L. Atwell, J. (2006). Evaluating the use of inquiry-based Activities: Do student and teacher behaviors really change? Journal of CollegeScience Teaching, November/December 2006, 50-55.