Session 8: Inquiry

An inquiry process allows students to revisit and revise prior knowledge in the light of new experiences in order to extend their learning

What is the connection between questions and inquiry?
The PYP recognises many different forms of inquiry based on children's genuine curiosity and on their needing and wanting to know about the world.  It is most successful when the questions are honest and have real significance in moving them to new levels of knowledge and understanding.  The most penetrating questions, ones most likely to move the child's understanding further, arise from existing knowledge.  (From A Basis for Practice)

During this session we will be defining what inquiry is.  We will look at different models of inquiry, go through some different inquiry cycles and observe two lessons.  This will be followed by a pair-share session where you will draw up different inquiry actions that you can do in your classes to promote inquiry.

Think, Puzzle, Explore
This Visible Thinking routine helps you to connect to prior knowledge, stimulates curiosity and lays the groundwork for independent inquiry.

Use this Visible Thinking Routine as you read the Edutopia article New Classroom Questioning Techniques for the Best Year Ever.

 (http://bit.ly/questionasb).

You can find out more about Harvard Project Zero Visible Thinking Routines here.

Thinking Trade

Our definitions of Inquiry:

• Inquiry should be a tool to maximize the learning process.  Lessons are consciously planned.  The teacher's role is to coach and facilitate.  Frame inquiries around provocations, essential questions rather than a closed topic.
• Student-centred exploration guided by open-ended, provocative questions that help activate and scaffold knowledge through the thinking process leading to relevant and transferrable knowledge/outcomes.
• Inquiry is a learning process that centers around provocative essential questions, that activates prior knowledge, encouraging students to reflect and record, developing rich transferrable concepts that teach us how to learn rather than what to learn.
• Inquiry is thinking in order to make meaning through provoking essential questions which are relevant and builds on students' prior knowledge.
• Inquiry is an approach to teaching and learning that involves asking provoking questions and stimulating minds to thinking without giving answers. It gives opportunities to dig for a deeper understanding and aims to instill rich, transferable skills