This post has been sitting in my drafts for a while, and I was reminded to complete it after a question from a student when I was covering a TOK class: “What’s the difference between inquiry and enquiry?” [tL:dR: Definitions matter … Continue reading
Search Results for: inquiry
Tankyuu (探 究): A Quest for Teacher Professional Inquiry
One of our big projects over the last few years has been to shift the focus of professional learning and goal setting from competence in the programmes and practices into genuine teacher inquiry. As a lot of foundational work had … Continue reading
Defining Inquiry (again)
Since my (re)defining inquiry assignment for Bath and article in IS-Mag, the importance of careful definition and action on inquiry has been on my mind. Education continues to be a battleground between polar views on “what is best for the … Continue reading
A pragmatic approach to inquiry: my article in IS magazine
The most recent issue of International School Magazine has run a feature written by me on how we interpret and frame inquiry, and is adapted from one of my recent Bath MA assignments. Continue reading
Content & Inquiry in a Google World
I don’t know anyone who can successfully teach ‘content-free’. We need to ensure that we teach good content: relevant, current, useful, interesting. We need to teach that content well, using effective methods and ensuring as much as we can that we don’t reinforce misconception. Google is a tool, not a teacher and a teacher who could be replaced by a search engine should be. At the same time, we can’t drown students in facts without leaving room for critical reflective thought (inquiry). We need to help students make connections and the selection (and teaching) of content is crucial in building conceptual and transferable understandings. Continue reading
Defining Inquiry: “Critical Reflective Thinking”
A quick abridged post to isolate Bente Elkjaer’s definition of inquiry as “Critical reflective thinking.” Continue reading
An Inquiry Crossfader: Authentic vs Effective Learning?
In reading more about Understanding Learners and Learning, learning theories and high-impact teaching and learning strategies I got thinking again about a conversation Jon Schatzky and I had a year and half ago about a continuum of inquiry. I’ll use … Continue reading
Curriculum as a Compass?
Over the last few years as a science teacher and coordinator I’ve been thinking a lot about how we might create a culture of thinking that balances vigorous and challenging outcomes with student co-creation (or navigation) of inquiry, particularly where … Continue reading
What does this look like in the classroom?
This post is a quick recommendation for a very practical resource for teachers, coordinators & learning coaches. “What Does This Look Like in the Classroom? Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice”, by Carl Hendrick & Robin MacPherson, with illustrations … Continue reading
The Quest for Learning in an IB Context
This post is a quick review of “The Quest for Learning: How to Maximize Student Engagement” by Marie Alcock, Michael Fisher and Allison Zmuda, published late 2017 by Solution Tree Press. I’m reviewing the paperback version: 122 pages plus foreword … Continue reading
