Course: Inquiry in the Classroom

Inquiry-based Learning is 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." from educapes-Teacher Tap

Inquiry in the classroom is teaching students to observe, question and research by: reading for information, writing with purpose and accuracy, and communicating this information to a community of learners. The training strategies presented here utilize current practices of information literacy coupled with free web applications available to teachers to create interactive online lessons and units of study.

1

Pre-planning
For a teacher, all the readiness conditions and events to plan and implement an inquiry-based project with students in their classroom.

Classroom Computer Management
Classroom Strategies Using Laptops Resource
Laptop Cart Usage (Download Powerpoint) file
Laptop Student Use Agreement (Download Word File)
Information Literacy
Reading for Information on the Internet Resource
Evaluating Web Sites Using Internet Search Technologies Resource
Information literacy Resources - Alan November file

2

Defining the Task
Introducing or selecting the topic and evaluation rubric including: student interests, activating prior knowledge, brainstorming and making the project doable.

Graphic Organizers Assignment

3

Questioning
Exploring the "big idea" of the project by asking essential questions of what students will examine and learn in the course of their study. Essential questions promote deep and enduring understanding.

4

Searching
Navigating and evaluating reliable sources of information using hard copy and the Internet.

SDUSD Electronic Resources
Online Databases file
Horizon Online Catalog file
ProCon.org file
Search Directories and Engines
Search Directories Resource
Curriculum Links Directory file
Search Engines Resource
Specialized Searches Resource
Walk Like a Librarian: Using Internet Search Technologies file
Reference
Reference Sites Resource

5

Gathering
Deciding what is important information using note taking and bookmarking strategies to record sources.

Citations
Teach students to use a citation maker to cite their sources while they are still gathering information. If you wait to do this during the synthesizing stage of a written product, remembering where you got your information may be lost or forgotten.
MLA Citation Maker - Elementary text file
Citation Machine - Secondary file
Bibme file

6

Sorting and Sifting
Organizing information by: eliminating information not needed and keeping information that goes together as connected pieces.

Persuasion Map
The Persuasion Map is an interactive graphic organizer that enables students to map out their arguments for a persuasive essay or debate. Students begin by determining their goal or thesis. They then identify three reasons to support their argument, and three facts or examples to validate each reason. The map graphic in the upper right-hand corner allows students to move around the map, instead of having to work in a linear fashion. By clicking the printer icon, students can preview their map, return to their map for revisions, or print their completed map for future reference.