rachel

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=__ Reflection #1 __=  Today's inquiry session was insipring. It is very impressive to hear the knowlegdeable thoughts of those around me as they shared their ideas and perceptions about inquiry. It was interesting to meet new people and get to know them and to see the desire that they have to continue to inspire their students in this way. I feel inspired to start working this way with the students as I think they will be a bit resistant to change(new procedures, routines and expectations will need to be put in place) but very excited once we begin and they see how in control of their own learning they are. I believe that the technology will be an excellent way of broadening their questions and ways of learning. I can see the potential of making the world a little smaller through their participation in this type of project. The global citizen can start right here. Just like Sharron said, we are interesting right here in NB.

This is an [|interesting website] which describes inquiry based learning from concept to classroom. It includes defintions, video clips, and ways to implement the strategy in our own classroom.

**Questioning**
QAR - Question Answer Relationship

Think and Search || Author and You (Inferring) On Your Own (Synthesis) not necessarily in the text ||
 * In The Text - Literal Questions || In My Head ||
 * Right there
 * answer is inspired by the text

**__What Classroom Environment features stimulate learning?__**
I think that an environment that will stimulates and facilitate Inquiry can have many forms. I am visualizing stundents sitting in way that they may easily work and discuss problems, questions and ideas with each other. Probably tables or pods of students. In a classrom like this the teacher will be moving around and working with students as they need guidance. I think the sound will be a little louder at times than others. By that I mean sometimes it will be quiet, othertimes the hum of activity, thinking and working will prevail. I would hope that a clasroom that uses inuiry will focus on the comprehension strategies as we will see technology working in the way it is intended to.

__What Are Essential Questions?__

They allow us to learn more about our world, they are SO compelling that they beg to be explored. There are so many layers, that each explorer will be able to use their skills and background knowlege to come up with a sense of personal dicovery within a larger community.

1. Essential questions invite perspective to be brought to bear in order to develop deep understanding. 2. In exploring essential questions together, people are able to find expression for their own strongest gifts and interests at the same time that they are able to establish a sense of community with others. 3. They are always poised at the boundary of the known and the unknown. 4. Essential questions arise from an implicit commitment to human efficacy: to a belief that individuals can make a difference, that knowledge can both be acquired and changed. 5. An essential question that arises from imaginative engagement is an important way to bring teacher, student and subject matter together in ways that enrich all three.

Essential Questions are very important. They are the meat, the muffin top, they are the yummy stuff inside of the oreo. Essential questions guide us through the journey of discovery. They allow us to find our own path within a common jouney. Essential questions allow us to learn in ways that are most condusive to our own learning.

=//A great question leads to deep thinking, rethinking, discourse, analysis, debate, and reflection. __How to write an essential question:__ What is the topic? What is the big idea or core understanding of the topic? What is the essential question? __Quotes__// //"It is nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of enquiry."// Albert Einstein, //Ideas and Opinions [|Slide Show with examples of essential questions] November 25, 2008 As we worked together in our group today we had several discussions regarding inquiry. There was a fear that what we are doing now may just lead us back to what we have always done. Hopefully we will figure out this method and will be able to plan efficiantly with it. We felt we did get an essential question worked out and maybe even some guiding questions. We are looking to find ways to futher developour ideas and really nail down how we want to plan this unit. I am eager to start working out our outcomes and idicators as a group. It is always nice to have others to help set you on the right path. The Ainsworth piece was also interesting. I will try this method but am not sure how it will go. How to plan an // Inquiry Unit - Thanks Karley ! = **__STEPS TO CREATING AN INQUIRY UNIT__** 1. Choose your topic from the sample themes and topics for ELA (chart in curriculum guide) 2. Use the funnel to create big understandings. 3. Create your Essential and Guiding Questions 4. Pick outcomes form each strand. - Comprehend and Respond (reading, viewing, listening) - Inquireruggled a bit wit - Compose and Create (representing, speaking, writing) - Reflect and Set Goals 5. Highlight all of the verbs and the nouns. 6. Compare your verbs to Bloom's Taxonomy and rate each verbs level.

Assessment
**__Assessment for Learning__** to me means assessing student work to enable the next steps in student learning. It is assessment for learning that we must constsntly be on top of in order keep our students motivated and progressing. __**Assessment as Learning**__ to me seem that this relates to self assessment. Students use this in order to help them develop independant learning habits and will also help determine how they learn best. Helps determine for students they ways in which they are the most powerful.
 * __Assessement of Learning__** is assessment that occurs to show how well students have learned to apply key concepts, skills, knowledge, and attitudes related to the outcomes as determined by the curriculum. This is reported to parents and becomes part of a students academic record.

Day Four Reflection

Today our group worked together to develop the beginning of our unit. We got to the point where we are now ready to work on the knowledge and do. We struggled a bit with choosing indicators but found that we began to work it out. The process is definately becoming more clear. I think with further time and work with this method we will definately figure it out. I do worry a bit about teachers who are not participating in this process - how on earth will they get to where we've been???