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Practice


Definition:

"Inquiry questions are rich questions full of other questions." 

Aaron Corey, Pre Service Teacher, Bishops University

"The Inquiry Question is a question open to research and investigation. While the question has a clear focus, it has many possible answers." 

www.mcmaster.ca/learning/inquiry

"Inquiry can be viewed as a process for answering questions and solving problems based on facts and observations."   

http://www.tandl.vt.edu/

Extra Insight

Attributes:

  • Focus students attention on a topic related to the subject theme and the cross curricular competencies in the cycle level
  • Excite the imagination with a 'why' question like "Why is the sky blue?"
  • Students begin to think "What causes blue skies?"
  • "Is it because....?" "What factors cause the sky to be blue?"
  • Provoke students thinking with 'how' questions
  • "Let's figure out the reasons it becomes blue?"
  • 'How' questions are researched
  • New levels of understanding result
  • Work with students to give a context to their findings
  • Ask 'Which' questions that lead to.... "We have learned that x, y, and z are possible causes. Based on the evidence, which do we select?"

Method:

PBL Project Planner
This planner identifies the parts of PBL plan starting with subjects, competencies, the inquiry question, a checklist of each stage, and a lesson planner.
PBL Venn Planner
This planner identifies the inquiry question in the center of the exploration, application, and presentation stages.