1. Creating an Active Learning environment
Using Inquiry and Primary Sources

2. What is Inquiry?
A process of learning that is driven by questioning, thoughtful investigating, making sense of information, and developing new understanding
Cyclical in nature
Goal is not accumulation of information. Instead it is exploration of significant questions and deep learning

4. I’m Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad
Connect
Connect to self, previous knowledge
Gain background and context
Identify key concepts, themes, and vocabulary
Observe, experience
I’m Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad

5. Wonder
Develop questions
Make predictions

6. What sources would you look for?
Investigate
Use questions and background knowledge to develop search strategy
Find, evaluate, and select sources
Find and evaluate information to answer questions, test hypotheses
Identify main ideas and supporting evidence
Seek multiple perspectives
Think about the information to illuminate new questions and hypotheses
What sources would you look for?

7. Construct Construct new understandings connected to previous knowledge
Draw conclusions about questions and hypotheses

8. Express Apply understandings to a new context, new situation
Express new ideas to share learning with others

9. Reflect
Reflect on own learning
Ask new questions

10. Reflection Techniques
Progress log, journals
Self-reflection questions
Oral reflections
Peer review and feedback

11. Literacy and Inquiry in Middle School
Moving from “learning to read” to “reading to learn”
Find information
Determine main points and supporting ideas
Analyze an argument

12. Literacy and Inquiry in High School
Reading multiple perspectives
Weighing evidence
Evaluating arguments
Making judgments

13. Using Inquiry to Teach Social Studies
Background information is essential
Need to see multiple perspectives
Address students’ misconceptions
Evaluate sources
Primary sources are essential
Evaluation of specific information and evidence
Examine evidence critically
Use of graphic organizers for note-taking and organizing information
Reflection as key component
Identify text structure
Availability of a library is key to inquiry

14. Using Inquiry to Teach English/Language arts
Thinking skills
Questioning, finding main ideas and details, summarizing, interpreting, making inferences, determining importance of ideas, identifying author’s purpose, synthesizing
Each step of inquiry is important but not essential in every assignment
Recognize and derive meaning from different text structures
Use of graphic organizers to analyze text

15. How do I create a culture of Inquiry in My classroom?
Role of student – ask questions and seek new understanding
Lead students to hypothesize, explore, reflect, and make meaning
Role of teacher – provokers and guides of student learning; interact with students and mediate the environment