Prewriting

Inquiry Learning is driven by questioning, thoughtful investigating, making sense of information, and developing new understandings." || How is this beneficial to teaching? How does it benefit students? || "Also necessary for inquiry are dispositions (attitudes toward learning), responsibilities, and self-assessment or reflection." || How do you break the habit of the "right answer" that has been embedded in students' minds? || context q's, framework q's, focus for questions different levels of questions ||  || Students are more involved in the learning process. The process is student-centered. || Where do the materials come from? || "...inquiry learning focuses more on LEARNING THINGS!" ||   || come from? || Variations include: Future Problem Solving Program Problem-based Learning Approach ||   ||
 * Know || What we want to learn || Learn || Further questions ||
 * "Inquiry is a process of learning that
 * Constructivist - students create understanding || Is there a timeline to complete steps? || "focused on using & learning content as a means to develop information-processing and problem-solving skills? || How much prep time is involved? ||
 * "as information explodes and teachers recognize that they can never deliver all the important information in their subject area, a new consensus is forming about the necessity of teaching students how, rather than what, to learn." || How does the required curriculum fit into inquiry? || "useful application of inquiry learning involves several factor"
 * The focus is on learning.
 * Develop skills, dispositions, responsibilities, and self-assessment strategies || Where do grades
 * Formulate appropriate research questions, organize the search for data, analyze and evaluate the data found, and communicate the results ||  || can be done in group work, lab work, or during lectures ||   ||
 * ||  || addresses multiple intelligences ||   ||
 * ||  || cooperative & collaborative learning environments ||   ||

IIM - []

Provides for learning by encouraging teachers to demonstrate the process as a class before independent work on projects begins. || Does it address learning styles? || It does, because students work at their own levels and knowledge. The end result is based on their comfort level and understanding of various technologies. ||  || It addresses state standards. It can be taught from K-12 (vertical alignment). ||  ||
 * Know || What we want to learn || Learn || Further questions ||
 * 7 steps: ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Topic, goal setting, research, organizing, goal evaluation, product, presentation || Why is this a good method to use? || It is authentic because the students work to find information on subjects of interest to them and have some flexibility in how they locate documents and present their findings. The system does guide them firmly through a structured pattern that makes the research process manageable and skill-building. ||  ||
 * 2 skill levels: basic and proficient
 * Teaching model that combines curriculum w/research skills || What methods are used? || It gives teachers the tools required to teach skills.
 * Leads students through research process || How do the steps help teachers and students? ||  ||   ||
 * Students choose topics that interest them, making the process authentic. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Students set goals and self-evaluate ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Posting the steps using the feet gives students and teachers a good visual for how to proceed. If the students move their names from one step to the next, it also allows them to compare progress to others and allows the teacher to do the same. ||  ||   ||   ||

Collaborators: Cynthia Rieger and Sandra Romero

Audience: Elementary Teachers

Topic: Why you should use IIM

Possible Presentation Tools: powerpoint, Glogster

Citations: Active Learning Systems. //IIM: Independent Investigation Method//. Active Learning Systems, 2009. Web. 11 Oct. 2009. <[]>. American Association of School Librarians. //Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Media Programs//. Chicago: American Association of School Librarians, 2009. Print. Stripling, Barbara. "Inquiry: Inquiring Minds Want to Know." // School Library Media Activities Monthly // 25 Sept. 2008: 50. Print. Concept to Classroom. //Workshop: Inquiry-based Learning//. Educational Broadcasting Corporation, 2004. Web. 12 Oct. 2009. []. Indiana Learns. Research Models. Indiana Department of Education, Web. 18 Oct. 2009. <[]>