A Presentation by Andrew Cymbalisty Inquiry Learning What all the fuss is about…

A Presentation by Andrew Cymbalisty

Inquiry LearningWhat all the fuss is about…

Let’s just say I was feeling a wee bit

unprepared…

The Unit PlanCreated and obtained from

Luke Friessen and Amie Sitter

To Make Things a Little Simpler…

Teacher Questions Inquiry Into…

Student’s Questions

Personal Inquiry Projects Action Plan: So What?

Consumer products are made from resources to satisfy our

needs and wants

What are standards and why are they necessary for consumer products

What are three types of resources and where are they found?

WorksheetsExplorationsField Trips

Movies

These become apparent as students inquire into the central idea and teacher

questions

Obtained from Amie Sitter, March 26th of 2009

Personal Inquiry Projects1. Product Comparisons 2. Lab Write-ups3. Presentations

Two products of their choiceInvestigation into which one is better

Using the Scientific ProcessDesign their own tests

Difference between Variables and ConstantsA list of possible choices, but there was a HUGE variety

of products tested at the end

Personal Inquiry ProjectsAll students were made to do the full Scientific

Process• Two products being compared

• Problem/Question• Hypothesis• Materials• Procedure

• Observations•Conclusions

Structure vs. UnstructureInvestment in Learning

Personal Inquiry ProjectsStudents were asked to do a professional

PowerPoint presentation on their project and the results.

This included:• We inquired into…•Our hypothesis was…•We decided to test the following variables… • The tests we performed on our products included…• We recorded our results by…• Our tests confirmed that…• From our inquiry we learned that…• We still have questions about…

Action PlanThe Chance to use all the knowledge

they have gained so far to make a difference in their lives or the lives of

others.

Our action project focused on looking at Nutrition Labels– imagine feeding a healthy snack to the entire school…

Investment in Learning

Team TeachingDefinitely Beneficial IF:• You and your partner have similar philosophies• The school you are in supports you• You have interchangeable grades• Your personalities mesh well

Some Frustrations Are:• Having to work around another person’s schedule for everything• Everyone’s philosophy is slightly different– you have to be flexible.

ManagementWhen students are engaged, management is a

non-issue

Demand compliance, do NOT ask for it

Rules and Procedures

The Power of Relationships

DifferentiationWhen I realized what the Adaptive

Dimension really was…

Closing Thoughts

Contact Information

I would not be advocating this approach to teaching if I did not truly believe that it is the approach best suited to the learning styles of children

today. I feel stronger about suitable pedagogical practices than I do anything else in the world– for that reason, I encourage you to contact me if

inquiry learning seems like something that you are interested in.

All inquiries can be directed to:

[email protected]