Inquiry+Learning

toc =THE POWER OF THE QUEST= uncertainty

“…be patient to all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now.” //Letters to a Young Poet - Rainer Maria Rilke//


 * AGENDA**

The journey will include challenges to thinking, practices, beliefs, some answers, different for everyone, more questions. You will be searching, writing, creating, collaborating, contributing, & communicating. The process will be:
 * Introduction**
 * messy
 * Open to wonder and puzzlement
 * Ambiguity
 * Full of frustration and joy!

> **Framing the Inquiry** > Goals: Purpose:
 * Why are we here?**
 * 1) Response to ELA curriculum issues
 * 2) Belief that technology should naturally be part of teaching and learning
 * Come to an common shared understanding of inquiry learning
 * Become disruptive innovators
 * Communicate using a variety of online tech tools
 * Search using a variety of online tech tools
 * Create an inquiry based unit for each grade
 * Searching for answers and more questions
 * Stimulate deeper thinking

Products/Expectations: [|VoiceThread]
 * Written - wiki entries and discussion, unit plan
 * Social Action – share unit and inquiry philosophy with others
 * Sharing will be by posting it on the net and by word of mouth, no presentations involved
 * Teach the unit to your students
 * Professional Reflection
 * Documentation of classroom practice (inquiry in action)


 * Outline of the Days**

Day One, October 6 – Understanding the Quest – Theoretical and Philosophical Day Two, October 7– Preparing for the Quest – Practical resources and strategies, planning for the unit Day Three – Pursuing the Quest – Developing and Writing the unit Day Four - Continuing the Quest – TBD

Understanding the Quest - Theoretical and Philosophical
Activating knowledge Vocabulary map/brainstorming – What do you know? Group activity Essential Question
 * Hook**
 * [|bubbl.us]
 * Use the Frayer Model to define inquiry (small group)
 * ** Anticipatory set – What do you believe? **
 * ** Why is inquiry a valid framework for learning? //(share the aha moment re: last year's essential question)//**

//Phase One - topical// >> //Phase Two – develop new concepts// //Phase Three// //Closure//
 * Develop Knowledge Base**
 * Wiki demo
 * Introduce wikis - find out who is using them?
 * Introduce wikis - find out who is using them?
 * joining the wiki, creating a page, adding content and links
 * Teachers search the internet and the print resources
 * [|What Makes Good Inquiry Learning?] (a good place to start)
 * Perception Check
 * refining inquiry – any questions you have that are narrowing your search?
 * Continue to search internet and the print resources
 * contribute to wiki – Aha moments, questions, links, resources - (but not //**just**// a page of links)
 * Quick Write – Thoughts in response to what you’ve learned

LUNCH

Meet in grade groups to share your individual response to the Essential Question Arrive at common thoughts among your group – questions and answers [|VoiceThread] is offering [|free educator accounts] for all k-12 classroom educators. These free accounts are identical to the Pro account in almost every aspect. When you're on the Browse, Create, or Myvoice pages click the button up top that says 'Go Pro' and then click the link that says K-12 classroom educators. - Example media type="custom" key="275867" Grade Eight - Inquiry group Grade Nine Inquiry Group [|Grade 9 Video]
 * Applying Knowledge Base**
 * VoiceThread
 * Create voice thread
 * synthesize thoughts and ideas to answer the essential question
 * Use copyright friendly resources for photos and images
 * [|Creative Commons Search]
 * [|YotoPhoto]
 * A great list of copyright friendly portals for images and photos
 * grade alike groups
 * Watch VoiceThreads
 * Grade Seven Group**


 * Closing**:
 * Wiki Discussion Board**
 * Post a comment about a shift in thinking that you’ve been exposed to.
 * Homework – post 1 comment before we meet reflecting on inquiry learning
 * Plans for tomorrow - gather thoughts from participants


 * Wiki Resources**:


 * Copyright Free Images**
 * [|Image Chef]
 * [|Creative Commons Search]
 * A great list of copyright friendly portals for images and photos

[|Wikispaces tutorials] [|YouTube Video Tutorials] (not all in English!)
 * Online Tutorials**