Inquiry LearningInquiry Learning

Saint Patrick’s SchoolSaint Patrick’s School

http://saintpatricksinquiry.wikspaces.com

What is Inquiry?What is Inquiry? Inquiry learning is the process Inquiry learning is the process

through which learners becomethrough which learners become

interested in an issue or problem,interested in an issue or problem, ask themselves questions about it,ask themselves questions about it, access relevant information,access relevant information, organise the results,organise the results, draw conclusions anddraw conclusions and then present them in some way then present them in some way

for others to comment on.for others to comment on.

At Saint Patrick’s this process At Saint Patrick’s this process involves three strands:-involves three strands:-

1. Inquiry1. Inquiry

1.1. Immersion – generating interest in an issue or Immersion – generating interest in an issue or problemproblem

2.2. Questioning – setting up the questions for studyQuestioning – setting up the questions for study

3.3. Accessing information to answer the questions – what Accessing information to answer the questions – what is relevant to the studyis relevant to the study - - becoming an expertbecoming an expert

4.4. Organising the information – to help raise the level of Organising the information – to help raise the level of thinking about the issue/problemthinking about the issue/problem

5.5. Drawing conclusions - about the issue/problem - Drawing conclusions - about the issue/problem - creating a solution creating a solution

6.6. Presenting the results for commentPresenting the results for comment

7.7. Evaluating the processEvaluating the process

2. Thinking skills2. Thinking skills

At St. Patrick’s School we tend to use At St. Patrick’s School we tend to use Edward de Bono’s thinking hats in Team 1Edward de Bono’s thinking hats in Team 1 Bloom’s Taxonomy of thinking skills in Team 2Bloom’s Taxonomy of thinking skills in Team 2

2a Edward de Bono’s Hats2a Edward de Bono’s Hats

2a Bloom’s Thinking Taxonomy2a Bloom’s Thinking Taxonomy

3a ICT Skills3a ICT Skills

From Mark Treadwell’s presentations.

3b ICT Skills3b ICT Skills

This means that our children need to become This means that our children need to become well versed in computer skills to enable them well versed in computer skills to enable them to make the best use of the Internet to access to make the best use of the Internet to access the information that they need for their the information that they need for their learning now and in the future!learning now and in the future!

3c ICT Skills3c ICT Skills

The New Zealand Ministry of Education have The New Zealand Ministry of Education have stated that the aim of education in our schools stated that the aim of education in our schools should be:should be:

““- to improve learner achievement in an - to improve learner achievement in an innovative education sector, fully connected innovative education sector, fully connected and supported by the smart use of ICT”and supported by the smart use of ICT”

3d ICT Skills3d ICT Skills

As well as government commitment to this As well as government commitment to this objective it has implications for schools in that objective it has implications for schools in that they need to make sure that their children are they need to make sure that their children are provided with the opportunities to become provided with the opportunities to become “smart users of ICT”. “smart users of ICT”.

We do not want to become little islands of We do not want to become little islands of obsolescence! obsolescence!

4. Organising Information4. Organising Information

These organisers enable children to raise the level of their thinking about the issue in a variety of ways.

In May Eric Frankenheim from Australia ran a Teacher Only Day for teachers in the Te Awamutu area about the use of these

5. Key Competencies5. Key Competencies

The handout chart shows how the Key Competencies relate to Inquiry, The handout chart shows how the Key Competencies relate to Inquiry, Thinking and ICT.Thinking and ICT.

These are the skills from the Ministry of Education’s New Curriculum Document:-

•Managing Self

•Relating to Others

•Participating and Contributing

•Thinking

•Using Language, text and symbols, including ICT

6. Planning6. Planning

The first handout is an example of planning a The first handout is an example of planning a unit that incorporates the three strands unit that incorporates the three strands involved in the Inquiry Processinvolved in the Inquiry Process

The Research Organiser (Lorraine Watchorn) The Research Organiser (Lorraine Watchorn) is designed to help the children see the Inquiry is designed to help the children see the Inquiry process from the beginning, see where they are process from the beginning, see where they are going and become competent in its use.going and become competent in its use.