Inquiry

at Milson School || We have enhanced our learning by using Inquiry. We have been following the Super 3 and Big 6 process, as well as starting to develop our own process model.
 * Inquiry Learning
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//Here are some examples from 2008...// ||

 **In 2008 we will complete 3 inquiry units - Milson PRIDE, Kiwiana and Let’s Move.** ** __Milson PRIDE__  **  **encompasses our values as a school and as learners.** **__Our schoolwide learning intention:__** * We are learning to successfully interact and learn in our environments. __**Our learning intention:**__ * We are learning about our Kiwi identity and the way in which it makes us special.
 * __ Kiwian  a__  **

**__Our learning intention:__** * We are learning about movement and its effect on our world.
 * __ Let’s Mov   e __ **

__**Inquiry Learning**__ Inquiry learning is “learning to learn” Inquiry learning is teaching children the skills they need to learn The content is irrelevant as inquiry is teaching children information literacy skills for real life The skills can be applied to any situation/context The teacher is the “guide” to facilitate learning and help guide children in the right direction Inquiry learning MAKES CHILDREN THINK  **__RICH CONCEPT__** Inquiry learning starts with a rich concept that is broad enough to be taken off in a number directions i.e. Go Green – Our Environment The rich concept provokes thinking and discussion  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; COLOR: #bf11df; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">__**KNOWLEDGE ATTACK**__ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">Children participate in a “knowledge attack” where they are immersed in the topic. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">This could be information, trips, videos, discussions, observations… <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; COLOR: #fdea3a; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">__** BIG QUESTIO N **__ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">From the knowledge attack, a big question is developed. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">The big question should not be able to be answered using information from one source. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">The big question should have a social action. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">i.e. How can we reduce the amount of graffiti at Milson School? <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; COLOR: #1c98f2; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">__**MINI QUESTIONS**__ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">These are the questions that will be used to help answer the Big Question <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">i.e. Where is the graffiti mostly happening? <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"> What strategies do other people use to get rid of graffiti? <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"> What strategies work most effectively? <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"> What are the strategies we could use effectively and how? <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"> What equipment will we need? <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; COLOR: #46f1cf; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">__**INFORMATION SEEKING**__ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">Now the children need to find the information. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">They need to decide what information they need and where the best places are to get it from. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; COLOR: #f91f9c; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">__**USING INFORMATION**__ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">The next step is gathering the information that is going to be useful. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">Children read, listen, ask questions, go out and talk to others, use the internet and then… notetake and draw pictures. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; COLOR: #50f259; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">__**SYNTHESIS**__ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"> Synthesis is organising the information. Children need to compare and contrast, find pros and cons, discard irrelevant info, and suggest solutions to their Big Question. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">They then //__do something__// with their information. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">This is the social action. A social action involves putting their learning to good use and could be anything from writing a letter to an MP to creating a mural for the school. The social action does not have to be huge as it is the process and the learning they did to get to that point that is most important. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; COLOR: #4416f8; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">__**EVALUATING**__ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">Children need to evaluate both the process they went through and the final product. This is an important part of the process as they can evaluate what they learnt and what they might change for next time. They can also assess their own ability to work with others and complete tasks. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; COLOR: #fd86c0; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">__**ICT and INQUIRY LEARNING**__ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">Throughout inquiry learning, ICT’s are used as a means of communication, documentation and presentation. ICT is used as a tool if and when it is appropriate. Examples are: <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">Photographs Email Video Video conferencing Audio conferencing Telephone calls Internet Creating Music <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">Visual presentations such as animations, powerpoints, pamphlets etc..