Monday, October 25, 2010

Inquiry Learning at the SSLA Conference

Presentation by Carol Koechlin
http://sslalearningcommons.pbworks.com

The renewed Saskatchewan curriculum has inquiry-learning in the middle of it. The chance for students to wonder, reflect, evaluate, etc.

Saskatchewan Curriculum Aims & Goals

Inquiry is a lot more than assigning a topic. If students are engaged in their inquiry, they will construct knowledge for deeper understanding. They are involved in the discovery of new knowledge and encounter differing ideas. They will also transfer new knowledge and skills to new circumstances. (Saskatchewan Curriculum)

The metacognative piece also needs to be added so that students understand that they are learning to be better learners. The collaborative piece and the power or potential needs to be added as well.

Carol Kuhthau, Guided Inquiry: Learning in the 21st Century
Carol Kuhthau, Guided Inquiry: Learning in the 21st Century "Inquiry learning is a social process in which students learn from each other in a community of learners."

Shifts to Watch:
  • Information seeking and reporting to indivudual and collective knowledge construction
  • Teacher directed learning to self and participatory learning
  • classroom learning to networked and global learning
  • Standards driven to exploring big ideas and concepts
  • Teaching to Facilitating process and active learning
    Resources to consult:
    SSLA Learning Commons Resources

    Steven Johnson's video on Ted.com about Where Good Ideas Come From