Field-based Inquiry

Dr. Lo Tin Yau Joe

12/9/2009

1. Inquiry - meanings

• answering questions ?

• exploring causes and solving problems ?

• confronting issues ?

• clarifying values?

• constructing/reconstructing concepts?

2. Inquiry – a strategy/process

• observation→ raising questions→ making predictions→ testing hypotheses→ creating theories and conceptual models

• other alternative pathways?

3. Inquiry model

Source: (2009). Inquiry page. Learning begins with questions. Retrieved from http://inquiry.illinois.edu/index.php

4. Planning and designing

• reference to the curriculum guide/ unit or lesson plan (connectivity/curriculum fit)

• backward mapping – learning outcomes (concepts? skills? values?)

• what to teach and learn? how to teach and learn? how to assess?

5. Inquiry in LS

• knowledge is socially constructed and mediated (conceptual changes)

• connectivity – space, time , space+time

• perspective consciousness→

perspective transformation

• values clarifications/conflict resolutions

6. Inquiry instruments/methods

• textual – multi-text

• dialogic –questioning?

• social

• scientific

7. Bedrock

• challenging assumptions

• problematizing the unproblematic

• seeing old issue in new frame and context

• knowledge is tentative…subject to contextual and temporal changes

8. Pre-trip

• prior knowledge/concepts and skills of students

• designs – inquiry issues/research agenda, instruments/methods, activities/learning/assessment tasks, expected learning outcomes, assessment rubrics, extension activities

• data to be collected (multiple sources)• group? individual?

8. Pre-trip (con’t)

• part to whole

• formal and informal curricula – inter-linkage

• background information/resources

• pre-trip briefing session(s) and/or workshops (if necessary)

9. In the field

• overview→ specific• group work – one site + multiple tasks or

multiple sites +one task• inter-exhibit/inter-site connectivity• inquiry process and context –

interdisciplinary? • interactive – people and objects; people

and people

9. In the field (con’t)

• time on tasks

• observational? descriptive? explanatory? affective? exploratory? comparative?

• diverse abilities and responses (unintended outcomes?)

• teacher’s observation and field notes for debriefing

10. Post-trip

• data interpretation and analysis (triangulation) – distinguishing facts from opinions

• oral presentations (jigsawing) and peer reviews for improvement

• deficiencies and remedies

• written or non-written reports

10. Post-trip (con’t)

• self-reflection and meta-cognition

• feedback for assessment

• re-conceptualization

• extension activities?

11. Some problems and issues to be addressed:

• peripheral contents ＞ core/key concepts

• discrete contents/facts ＞ learning experiences

• inquiry questions → fact finding? (frame of reference? scope/sequence? flow?)

• worksheets - connectivity

• isolated/orphan skills

11. Some problems and issues to be addressed (con’t)

• level of difficulties – low? high?• transferability of knowledge through

application?• repetitions ＞ variations (levels of

progression)• cognitive ＞ non-cognitive (social,

contextual/physical, affective, behavioural)• technology-assisted?

• data interpretations ＞ data analysis (triangulation)?

• evidence-based ?• curriculum-connected?• educative rubrics?• learning in action through reflections?