Inquiry Learning

Inquiry Learning (or Critical Thinking): I offer one method for getting students to think critically about information as they select from it and synthesize their selections in a written or oral report or website. Just learning to do an effective WebQuest design could be a project for the rest of the academic year, so please consider these materials seriously.

Here is a URL for WebQuests--a 6-part method invented by Bernie Dodge of San Diego State U. for getting students to grapple with screened data sources online.

	Here's the overview; click on each lego block in turn.
	Dodge has gathered various training materials.

Sid Bass (PRC, Engineering) mentioned the Full Option Science System (FOSS) highlighted by the University of California, e.g. Berkeley, originally developed for elementary school educators. The METHOD, however, can be applied at any level and probably transfers well to other disciplines.

Roberta Johnson recommends--

	Action, Talk and Text: Learning and Teaching Through Inquiry, Gordon Wells, Teachers College Press, 2000 - Paperback available
	Learning the Landscape: Inquiry-Based Activities for Comprehending and Composing, Claggett, Vinz and Reid, Boynton Cook, 1996 - Paper

The following citation from VIVA describes a learning cycle used in teaching social studies. To access it, at the JSRCC LRC site, select "InfoTrac" to search by title, author, or article number --

InfoTrac Web: InfoTrac OneFile.

Full content for this article includes Chart and illustration.

Source: The Clearing House, May-June 1999 v72 i5 p275(4).

Title: "Constructivist theory in the classroom: internalizing concepts through inquiry learning."
Author: Mary M. Bevevino, Joan Dengel and Kenneth Adams

Abstract: Social science teachers can make classroom learning more meaningful by using the inquiry learning approach. The basic premise of inquiry learning revolves around constructivist, in which students use their prior knowledge and experiences to develop their own frames of thinking. It promotes critical thinking in students and encourages them to internalize major concepts in an active, non-threatening manner.

Subjects: Social sciences - Study and teaching
Social science teachers - Technique
Inquiry (Theory of knowledge) - Usage
Constructivism (Education) - Analysis
Teaching - Technique

Electronic Collection: A54685803
RN: A54685803
(The full text is copyrighted.)

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