Welcome to one educator's exploration of Inquiry Learning. Join me on a journey of discovery where I will:
Inquiry learning is what happens when we face the challenge of solving a problem or making a decision that requires the use information. There are many inquiry models that can be used to scaffold inquiry, and most incorporate similar stages. Carol Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process will be a point of reference to reflect on my own inquiry.
Kuhlthau's Information Search Process has six stages:
- ask questions
- refine my online search skills
- learn more about inquiry models
- evaluate and redesign a student inquiry
Inquiry learning is what happens when we face the challenge of solving a problem or making a decision that requires the use information. There are many inquiry models that can be used to scaffold inquiry, and most incorporate similar stages. Carol Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process will be a point of reference to reflect on my own inquiry.
Kuhlthau's Information Search Process has six stages:
- Task initiation
- Selection
- Exploration
- Focus formulation
- Collection
- Presentation
INQUIRY RE-SEARCH
As I search and re-search for answers to inquiry questions, my learning will be two-fold. I aim to develop a deeper understanding of inquiry learning, and in the process learn about effective and efficient online search skills and strategies.
These skills and strategies will assist me to refine or broaden search results in my quest to source the most relevant and credible information about inquiry learning.
As an educator, these strategies will be of great benefit, saving me time as I locate resources. I will also be able to provide instruction to students, so they may add the efficient searching skill set to their inquiry repertoires.
These skills and strategies will assist me to refine or broaden search results in my quest to source the most relevant and credible information about inquiry learning.
As an educator, these strategies will be of great benefit, saving me time as I locate resources. I will also be able to provide instruction to students, so they may add the efficient searching skill set to their inquiry repertoires.
INQUIRY IN ACTION
To consolidate my knowledge about inquiry models, and in particular Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process, I will analyse and critically reflect on a student inquiry. The student inquiry I will evaluate for this purpose is a Year 5 inquiry exploring the central idea: "Significant events have an impact upon a community".
Students are inquiring about:
As a result of the analysis, various models, including the Generic, Situated, Transformative or Expressive (GeSTE) Windows (Lupton & Bruce, 2010), will be applied to inform curriculum redesign of the student inquiry.
Students are inquiring about:
- The significant developments that changed and shaped Australia
- The impact individuals or groups have had on development
- What influences patterns of development
As a result of the analysis, various models, including the Generic, Situated, Transformative or Expressive (GeSTE) Windows (Lupton & Bruce, 2010), will be applied to inform curriculum redesign of the student inquiry.