What is open-inquiry pedagogy?

Inquiry is a process of questioning what you think is the cause to something and finding out that the answer leads to more questions. I use inquiry learning in my classroom. It is fun and it takes some time for the students to realize that the questions keep coming and some possible solutions are not always found immediately.

My interest is to create an inquisitiveness in my students fom an inquiry based model.As a first grade teacher I intend to take advantage of their natural curiosity about life and some of it's components.

Hello, just for introductory's sake, my name is Luisana Taveras and I am an upcoming sophomore here at Bryn Mawr College. This summer I am one of Professor Grobstein's interns for the Brain and Behavior Institute that just past as well an assistant for the remaining institutes including this Science as Inquiry institute.

Seeing as to how I am not teacher, my thoughts on inquirycomes from my experience as a student who (I feel) did not recieve a sufficient inquiry-based education. My pre-college education was a mile wide and an inch deep because non-inquiry based lessons just do not matter to a student; it does not stick in his/her mind.

Incorporating interactive interdisciplinary-based learning improves a student’s inquiry skills and is a valuable tool (please see successive post) for people at any and every point of his/her life which is why it should be implemented in all levels of education.

Inquiry is looking at science through hands on learning experiences. Apparently, students need to touch what they are studying if they are to make a brain connection. The brain makes sense of what is studied if the hands can actually feel what physical objects are being studied.

Since I began teaching a mere ten years ago, I have always emphasized using hands-on learning as my teaching style. I was a nature counselor at two camps in Pennsylvania and all of these lessons were centered around the exploration of the scienctific world that surrounds us. All activities were student centered utilizing artifacts and specimens which helped students make brain connections. In the classroom, I use many of these same artifacts to extend the lesson which is also an opportunity for urban children to experience nature in a way unfamiliar to them because of their environment.

Two years ago at my school, I utilized several FOSS science kits to teach science through Inquiry Based science. This past year, we were involved in Governor Rendell's "Science It's Elementary", which lends science modules to schools. We received training in the use of FOSS and STC kits, all of which were created with a hands-on science as inquiry model. Theoretically, each trained classroom teacher will use their assigned module to teach science to their students. In many classes I actually taught for them, but some teachers taught too.

 

Inquiry is finding out some information about something. This means trying to know more about that thing. I believe when students use inquiry-based learning they get to pull information out themselves. There is usually a chance to use prior knowledge and students get involved / engaged. Also there is a feeling of ownership as they get to open the treasures of knowledge.

My experience with inquiry-based education has been limited to my personal knowledge and ideas about it. I have not had any formal training or professional development in that area.

I intend to use the knowledge and experience I get from this institute in my class room to further enhance my students' learning. My students will get the opportunity to show what they have {prior knowledge} and will find out more with my guidance. They will be involved and engaged and most likely will be able to claim ownership of their own learning experiences.

 

Tola

Pre-Institute Thoughts about Inquiry

The first day of the 2008 Science as Interactive, Interdisciplinary Inquiry

I think of inquiry as a thoughtful question based on an observation of interest, possibly the result of a discrepant event, followed by an attempt to answer the question either by researching similar events in printed materials or by setting up a controlled experiment. Either of these methods assumes a point of view that may change according to the results.

In my experience as a teacher, I assume a pivotal role in the inquiry for my students, perhaps involving myself too much. Often, I pose the question and provide the background information. Then, I ask the students to help design the approach to an answer. This short cut permits more me to include more content in the course. I have used this approach in both biology courses I teach, Grade 7Biology and AP Biology.

I guess we are all capable of posing questions, but it seems to be the great intellects who are able to pose the important questions. As with most endeavors, practice helps to elevate the level of questioning, although I continue to be impressed with the questions posed by both my Middle School and Upper School students. The ability to ask the important questions seems not to be age related. As with so many other talents, practice helps but the starting point varies among people. Genetics and environment both contribute. Therein lies the job of educators. We can provide the environment for the enhancement of the talent.

I hope this Institute of Science as Interactive, Interdisciplinary Inquiry will help me to provide more practice time with inquiry for the students in the classes I teach.

Susan Dorfman

Inquiry means asking specific questions related to a topic of discussion. I have probably used inquiry based education in my class, however, not in using that term. My students are continually engaged in asking questions and they enjoy challenging me all the time. When I don't have answers,
I tell them that we'll need to research the topic on the Internet. They are excited about using computers and I am, too.