Oakland Elementary School

Palmetto State Gender Institute

March 23rd, 2013

Keeping it Real for All Learners: Integrating Inquiry and Immersion through

Project Based Learning

Dawn J. Mitchell, Emily Daniel, Kelly Holden, & Stacey Johnson

What We Want:21st Century Learners

What We Do:Traditional Information

Transmission Model

How Do We Keep it Real for All Learners?

Research Suggests Inquiry-Based Learning

0 “In schools we often skim across the surface of various topics in ways that bore students and teachers. In contrast, inquiry classrooms are animated and they produce results: Students and teachers address the same required content but go far beyond “coverage” to achieve deeper understanding and to learn purposes and processes that traditional schooling does not promote. In addition, evidence is mounting that students who learn through inquiry typically do better on standardized tests than those who have learned through traditional methods.” –Jeff Wilhelm “Engaging Readers and Writers with Inquiry”

0 *See Figure: Moving from Topical Coverage to Critical Inquiry from Jeff Wilhelm page 13

What is Inquiry-Based Learning?

0 “Inquiry-based learning is a way of acquiring knowledge through the process of inquiry. In inquiry-based learning, students either ask their own questions or are posed a question by the teacher. In the former case the question concerns a topic the students wish to learn about, and in the latter case the question concerns a topic the teacher wishes students to learn about. Regardless of the source of the question, inquiry-based learning requires that students play a major role in answering the question.” Why Inquiry-Based Teaching and Learning? http://www.biology.duke.edu

How Could This Engage All?

0 Turn and Talk: When have you used inquiry-based learning in your classroom? Describe the context? How could this type of inquiry engage all learners?

0 What worked? What didn’t? What did you learn from the experience? What would you like to change?

0 Math – What strategy did you use? Why? Teach it to us0 Science/ Social Studies – posing essential questions and

then having students do their own research0 Writing – asking students what do they think the author

is doing and why0 Technology – what can I use to show what I know and

how does this work?0 Teacher created overarching essential questions as an

umbrella with student generated questions underneath

0 “Nonfiction inquiry demands that learners select a real topic that interests them, develop some questions about it, read for information, search for answers through research, report information, and ultimately gain new insight.”

0 Stephanie Harvey “Nonfiction Matters”

Workshop Goals

0 Introductions

0 Best Practices in Inquiry0 Examples of Inquiry Through 0 Project Based Learning0 Examples of Everyday Inquiry

Cyclical Process of Inquiry

0 “Based on John Dewey’s philosophy that education begins with the curiosity of the learner, we use a spiral path of inquiry: asking questions, investigating solutions, creating new knowledge as we gather information, discussing our discoveries and experiences, and reflecting on our new-found knowledge. Each step in this process naturally leads to the next: inspiring new questions, investigations, and opportunities for authentic “teachable” moments.”

0 The Inquiry Page http://inquiry.uiuc.edu/

Best Practices in Inquiry

0*Relevant – to standards and to students0*Real World – in process and in product0*Rigorous – allows for application and

for ownership0*Reading and Writing are Integrated

Throughout – reciprocal processes

Integrating Inquiry and Immersion Through Project Based Learning

0 *Project Based Learning 0 Approach Allows For:0 *Critical Thinking0 *Creativity0 *Collaboration0 *Communication

Examples of Inquiry Through Project Based Learning

0*Emily’s Example – Kindergarten

0*Kelly’s Example – 2nd Grade

0*Stacey’s Example – 4th Grade

Emily’s Example

0 We Work Hard For Our Money Project!

0 Week 1 Providing Goods and Services0 Whole Group, Small Group, Individual Components0 Week 2 Wants and Needs0 Performance Task Rubric0 Dues and Fees Chart0 Application

Kelly’s Example

0 Whole Group Support: They didn’t even know it!0 Polar Animals: Gail Gibbons Polar Bears 0 Hooked with a Paw…..0 12 x 18

I Wonder………

Students came up with questions.

Narrowed it down to two.

Researched those questions as a class. Once we found the answers, we went through the entire

writing process.

What do you want to know? North Pole South Pole introduced students to more Polar Animals. Groups were formed due to interest.Rubrics were explained.Each person chose 2 questions.Research began…………

Penguins0How many kinds are there?0How fast can they swim?

0Are they all black and white?0What do they eat?

0Why do the daddies hold the eggs on their feet?

Presentations

0 Poster, Power Point, Prezi, and/or iTunes Apps: Educreations, and/or Puppet Pals. (2.99)

If Styrofoam had been invented in 1492 when I was drinking my cup of hot chocolate it would still be around today!

My Styrofoam cup will be around for 500 years!!! How

shocking!!!!

Stacey’s Example

I convinced my whole family to stop

using Styrofoam!

Project: StyrofoamPBL

Smart…because it’s integrated!

Real world…because the outcome

affects each student! Motivating…because kids feel they have the power to turn a problem into a

solution!

Unit Framework for Inquiry and Immersion

Content What do you want students to know about the subject?

Reading/WritingTo Learn

What reading/writing strategies will students need to know and apply to build content knowledge?

Craft What craft techniques will students need to know to be able to create a written piece that shows evidence of both content and craft? What

genre(s) will they read/write in?

Inquiry Process How will students use the inquiry process to gain content and craft knowledge? How will you provide for student choice? What research

support in terms of skills and resources will students need to be successful?

Product / Project What will students produce to show evidence of their learning of content/craft? What process will students need to use to create the

product? How will this product be presented and serve as a culmination for the unit of study?

Examples of Everyday Inquiry

0 Immersion Centers/Bags 0 ED 101 Inquiry Projects0 Essential Questions (as activating strategy and as exit

slips)0 Self-Assessments0 KWLs/RAN charts

RAN Inquiry Chart Dawn Johnson Mitchell

RAN Inquiry Chart

1. What I Think I Know What do I already know or think I know about my

topic?

2. Confirmations What prior knowledge was confirmed from my

research?

3. Misconceptions What prior knowledge

was discarded or modified from my

research?

4. New Learning What new information did I learn from my research that was not included in

my prior knowledge?

5. Wonderings What new questions do I

have about my topic based on the new information

gathered?

Exit Slip

0 I Am Already Using…

0 I Want to Think About…

0 I Have Questions About…

0 I Want to Try…