Inquiry Based Learning in Elementary

     My topic of interest is school wide inquiry based learning at the elementary level.  My first resource chosen is a bit of a pleasant surprise pick to me, as I am not a social media guru, but it has so many links to great ideas!  Two other resources I found through an easy google search and my fourth is from the UBC library.  My last resource choice is an old school print book.  I am trying to gain momentum with colleagues in regards to inquiry based learning and have the whole school on board.  I hope a print book will work well for those non techie staff and it is a good professional resource to have on my own bookshelf.

     It was easy to find articles, blogs, videos, and more on inquiry based learning that was of quality and relevance to my focus.  It was more of a case of paring it down from the ample options to view instead of any absence of information.  A little extra time was required to find information specifically for a broad overview for school wide inquiry.  With our redesigned curriculum giving room for inquiry based learning, there seems to be lots of research, examples, and ideas out there to support this style of learning.  There is lots of information from teachers and learners that have tried the process and seen the positive results that are sharing their knowledge, so you can feel confident that it is a tried and true process. 

Retrieved from:
https://www.amazon.ca/Dive-into-Inquiry-Amplify-Learning/dp/1945167149 

One takeaway for me is that all fellow lead learners of mine can dive into inquiry at their comfort level.  They can start small and work in little changes or really dive in.  I also appreciated that innovation and technology were encouraged to be part of the process and not just for the sake of having technology, but for building on the learning.  Here are my top 5 picks for inquiry based learning for the elementary school level:

• Facebook - Inquiry Based Learning

     This facebook site is specific to inquiry based learning.  It provides up to date ideas and

Retrieved from:
 https://www.facebook.com/INQUIRYBASEDBEEDIIIE/?ref=py

quality links to great resources, which makes it very useful to gather innovative approaches to inquiry based learning.  It has a wide range of information applicable to elementary inquiry based learning from videos and images to lesson ideas.  There is a nice variety of ideas and I like the connections with many well-known experts of inquiry based learning being sited.  The one negative of this resource is with it being a social media site, you may come across some posts that do not pertain specifically to your focus.  Some of your time can be wasted scrolling through ideas not of worth to you.  Overall however, the current, diverse and quantity of ideas can provide lots of inspiration for a lead learner with inquiry based learning.  Similar, but excellent as well:   https://www.facebook.com/InquiryBased/

• YouTube:  What is Inquiry Based Learning

     This Youtube video is the perfect quick length at 6 minutes to give a little snippet overview of inquiry based learning.  There is an explanation about getting students actively involved in their own learning, asking questions, and evaluating information.  This video would work to share with teachers, staff, parents, or students.  It is getting older, being published 2014, but it is a simple explanation that helps give an understanding of the process.  Its simplicity in video format makes it visually appealing.   I appreciate the message at the end of the video, which indicates how there are different levels of inquiry from structured to open, to help vary learning experiences based on the needs of students.

• Edutopia - Inquiry Based Learning    

Retrieved from:
https://sharemylesson.com/partner/edutopia

 This amazing site found from a google search has everything a classroom teacher could need or want to answer the who, what, where, when and why of inquiry based learning.  There are links on how to create an inquiry based learning environment, the benefits of one, strategies, activities, examples, and lessons to download.  I like that the links are boldly dated and with origin to know how relevant they are and where they are from, giving a quick glimpse of their quality.   Also, I appreciate this site because the varieties of options to locate information are categorized so there is no need to scroll through every post to find what you are looking for.  Edutopia was founded in 1991 by George Lucas and is for grades k-12 with a focus on innovation and quality learning.  I think this is a very meaningful and engaging resource for any teacher and it matches up with the 7principles of learning written about by Benavides, Dumont, and Istance, 2008. 

• Inquiry based Learning for Elementary Teachers by Education Library, UBC

Retrieved from:
http://search.library.ubc.ca/

      This is a number one resource to resources!  The quality is apparent with it coming from a trusted location of an academic university library.  The focus is elementary inquiry which makes it well suited for my area of focus.  This is an excellent resource for classroom teachers as there are book recommendations, lessons, unit plans, plus links to blogs, YouTube videos and websites!  Information is current and the individuals that have compiled the resources are elementary teachers so resources are applicable to my area of focus.  The Research Guides for Education of the UBC library is where to go!

• Dive into Inquiry: Amplify Learning and Empower Student Voice by Trevor MacKenzie

Retrieved from:
https://www.amazon.ca/Dive-into-Inquiry-Amplify-Learning/dp/1945167149

     There are a few good print options about inquiry based learning, but Dive into Inquiry is the one that gives a solid overview of inquiry based learning that is useful at the elementary level.   Inspiring Curiosity: The Librarian’s Guide to Inquiry Based Learning by Colette Cassinelli has some effective step by step, useful ideas for inquiry based learning but is more for a highschool setting.  MacKenzie is an English teacher, instructional coach, supporter of innovation and technology, author, and individual out to support meaningful public education.  Dive into Inquiry is not a heavy read which means it is not overwhelming for someone just getting started.  The ideas are relevant and I like the book because it has examples and quality resources with research to back it up.  Anyone can find even a little something new to try for a bit of a change in their classroom depending on your comfort level.  McKenzie gives links to places like his own blog.  The book is a good, clear, and engaging read.

References

Benavides, F., Dumont, H., & Istance, D. (2008b). The search for innovative learning environments. In F. Benavides, H. Dumont, & D. Istance (Eds.), Innovating to Learn, Learning to Innovate (p. 21). Paris: OECD Publishing.

Cassinelli, C. (2018). Inspiring curiosity. ISTE.

Edutopia. (2018). Resources and Downloads to Facilitate Inquiry-Based Learning | Edutopia. [online] Available at: https://www.edutopia.org/article/inquiry-based-learning-resources-downloads [Accessed 30 Sep. 2018].

Facebook.com. (2018). Inquiry-Based Learning. [online] Available at: https://www.facebook.com/INQUIRYBASEDBEEDIIIE/?ref=py [Accessed 30 Sep. 2018].

Facebook.com. (2018). Inquiry-Based Learning & Teaching. [online] Available at: https://www.facebook.com/InquiryBased/ [Accessed 30 Sep. 2018].

Library, E. (2017).  Inquiry based learning for elementary teachers

MacKenzie, T. (2016). Dive into inquiry: Amplify Learning and Empower Student Learning. EdTechTeam Press.

MacKenzie, T., MacKenzie, T., MacKenzie, T., MacKenzie, T., MacKenzie, T., MacKenzie, T., MacKenzie, T., MacKenzie, T., MacKenzie, T. and MacKenzie, T. (2018). Posts. [online] Trevor MacKenzie. Available at: https://www.trevormackenzie.com/posts [Accessed 30 Sep. 2018].

YouTube. (2018). What is Inquiry-Based Learning?. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u84ZsS6niPc [Accessed 30 Sep. 2018].

Elementary Inquiry Based Learning

     It sure was easy to use up the suggested 1-2 hours searching to collect resources of information for my topic of inquiry based learning, and then some!  There was a plethora of information on my topic as I toured about blogs, databases, and through the numerous videos out there.  I first started with the suggested course links (found a few good ones there), did the easy google search (found lots, like Madlylearning) and investigated TED talks (lots, but not all inquiry specific).  UBC library was a jackpot in information, as were the Youtube videos and pinterest! 

https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/25121710402840123/

Not loving the twitter world and facebook meant it took me a bit longer to find information there, but this led me to some great podcasts and connected me to other informative sites, like Mindshift!

retrieved from:
https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/51580/four-inquiry-qualities-at-the-heart-of-student-centered-teaching
 from the link:
 https://www.facebook.com/InquiryBased/ion

  My jackpot at the UBC library was in the guides which gave a wealth of information and applicable links like this gem I found at create2learn . I also found links to some blogs, too!  One click and the door opened to so many books, videos, lessons, and research on my topic.   I had started searching using the keywords of ‘k-7 inquiry based learning’ which worked fine in google but not as well in the UBC library.  Using the slightly different key words of ‘elementary learning in depth’ and ‘project based learning’ gave me better results in some places.  The biggest challenge in finding my desired information using UBC library journals and pinterest was finding articles with a broad inquiry focus.  My ‘elementary inquiry based learning/learning in depth’ keywords gave me too specific of results like inquiry based learning in science or inquiry based learning in grade 2, but my focus for inquiry is school wide k-7.

     When I was perusing TED talks for my topic of inquiry based learning, I couldn’t help but watch a couple of Will Richardson’s TED talks, what with his book being the basis of our class discussions!  The talks of his that I watched weren’t specifically about inquiry based learning, but still I found some insight.  This screenshot from Richardson’s video, The Surprising Truth about Learning in Schools, lists conditions for powerful learning (left side) in comparison to things people never say (right side). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxyKNMrhEvY

The left side is a great list of goals that I would love to see happening in my school wide inquiry based learning environment.  I think it is a keeper as a great visual for me and for me to share out with other learners in my school.

      Overall, I did not have to adjust my search too much and seemed to have lots of sources to choose from.  One site linked to another which linked to another and so on!  I discovered that my research that I have collected is sometimes specific instead of a overall inquiry based culture feel and way of learning.  Most were specific for a grade level or about one inquiry lesson, but what I learn or take from each informative resource I will apply broader.  Hopefully the learning I gained from a post about inquiry in the grade 2 science room will help as I try to create an inquiry based way of learning school wide.

References

Inquiry-Based Learning & Teaching. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/InquiryBased/

Inquiry-Based Learning & Teaching. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/InquiryBased/ion

Me, A., Classroom, M., Store, M., Group, F., Podcast, T., Me, W., & Policy, P. (2018). Planning for Inquiry Based Learning | Madly Learning. Retrieved from https://www.madlylearning.com/planningforinquiry/

MindShift (@MindShiftKQED) on Twitter. (2018). Retrieved from https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED?lang=en

Pinterest. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.ca/search/pins/?q=elementary%20inquiry%20based%20learing&rs=typed&term_meta[]=elementary%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=inquiry%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=based%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=learing%7Ctyped

Students, W., Learn?, C., Soon!, M., Discipline, C., Learn, H., & See, B. et al. (2018). MindShift Podcast by KQED on Apple Podcasts. Retrieved from https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/stories-teachers-share-mindshift/id1078765985

The Surprising Truth About Learning in Schools | Will Richardson | TEDxWestVancouverED. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxyKNMrhEvY

Personal Interest and Opportunity Identification

      Now that I have had the chance to get my feet wet as a teacher librarian in the same library for the past 4 years, I definitely have ideas of what I want to see happen in our school library and for libraries in our district.  I still feel overwhelmed with how much I need to get done, would like to get done, and even knowing where to start!  I am very fortunate to have 3 other TLs that together with me, have come together to receive inquiry grant money to pursue our library interests and issues.  We hope more newbie TLs in our district join us this year!  So far we have all started transitioning our libraries into library learning commons, brought our LSA for TLs back to life, and started advocating our TL role at the school board level.  So moving forward, my main long term interest is to complete the transition of my library to a learning commons.  Also, this past year I was working at increasing indigenous resources (specifically pertaining to our local band) in our library to better support teachers, but this goal is certainly an ongoing issue.  One other interest last year for me was trying to incorporate more inquiry based learning in our school.  Last year it was small scale, collaborating with the three of us that taught grade 7 science and we made a solid start.  I am hoping to go BIGGER with inquiry based learning this year.  I have a few more teachers at various grades showing interest so I hope this will be an opportunity for me to get this rolling and work towards being a school wide approach k-7.

https://teacherevolution.me/tag/inquiry-based-learning/

      Of my three main interests (library learning commons, indigenous resources, inquiry based learning), digital technologies could be part of each.  I am tending to lean towards gaining information about inquiry based learning because I feel like it matches how our redesigned curriculum, is how students of this century are learning, and because I would like to extend the work I started last year. 

https://www.teachthought.com/critical-thinking/10-benefits-of-inquiry-based-learning/

I like the idea of me being a learner alongside my colleagues and students and feel that inquiry based learning promotes lifelong learners of our students.  Digital technologies that could contribute to enhance my students’ learning in regards to inquiry based learning are ample: internet searches, learning to do safe searches, finding valid search sites, virtual field trips, skyping, videos, VR goggles, and podcasts.  Students sharing their learning can use any technology our school has to offer (iPads, chromebooks, laptops) or that of our school district, such as 3D printing, to create awareness and make a difference with their learning.   All areas of the BC Curriculum across the grades and subjects have the potential to be related to my interest.  I think my school, district and province all see the value of problem solving, team teaching and critical thinking that is gained through inquiry based learning.  I believe that this systematic approach of learning how to learn will be engaging for all the students in my school and will also provide me with new challenges and a chance to grow in my learning, too!

• Key words: inquiry based learning, learning in depth, Kieran Egan, k-7, aged 5-13, school wide, library, learning commons, creating good questions, critical thinking, culture of inquiry, points of inquiry, facilitating inquiry based learning, technology, assessing inquiry, collaboration, learner centered