Posted by Tyson Hallet on July 30, 2009 at 10:42pm
Hi everybody,
I'm about to begin a new year at a new school and will be working with seconday students for the first time ever (was previously in an elementary school). I'd like to come up with a proposal for a school-wide research process and am really interested in the guided inquiry model. The thing is, after reading up on it a bit, I'm still not totally clear on what it looks like in action. Is it completely different from Big6, or is Big6 an example of a guided inquiry model? Is guided inquiry rooted in the thinking behind the student-driven inquiry-based learning that goes on in the sciences? If anybody has any insight or especially practical experience with guided inquiry research, please let me know! THANKS!
You need to be a member of TLNing (teacherlibrarian.org) to add comments!
A couple of definitions about "the research process" to help you think this through:
Big6 is a "problem solving model" which can include inquiry, but has also been implemented without ever including inquiry (think: David Loertscher's Bird Units).
Only some library research models, like Danny Callisons' "information inquiry" include hands-on gathering of data through interviews, surveys and experimentation. Others research only into secondary sources like books, media, periodicals, etc.
Guided inquiry explicitly emphasizes that the students are guided (including "targeted interventions") by the librarian/teacher along a continuum as the student moves toward independence, maturing in his/her application of inquiry. Kuhlthau's theory and research base documented the thoughts, feelings and actions of the learner during research - information that the teacher can use to guide "targeted interventions." For example, knowing that all student go through a period of confusion, frustration and doubt during exploration, the teacher/librarian can help students develop a metacognitive understanding of these feelings, so as not to be stalled or give up. Other models may assume guidance/coaching but describe the learner rather than what the teacher/librarian is doing.
You're absolutely right about what's important --- a consistent model with common language agreed-upon by everyone that enables articulation throughout the school. In my experience as a consultant, this will take three years of planning and roll-out. You'll need more than a proposal to get buy-in from your school community.
Replies
Big6 is a "problem solving model" which can include inquiry, but has also been implemented without ever including inquiry (think: David Loertscher's Bird Units).
Only some library research models, like Danny Callisons' "information inquiry" include hands-on gathering of data through interviews, surveys and experimentation. Others research only into secondary sources like books, media, periodicals, etc.
Guided inquiry explicitly emphasizes that the students are guided (including "targeted interventions") by the librarian/teacher along a continuum as the student moves toward independence, maturing in his/her application of inquiry. Kuhlthau's theory and research base documented the thoughts, feelings and actions of the learner during research - information that the teacher can use to guide "targeted interventions." For example, knowing that all student go through a period of confusion, frustration and doubt during exploration, the teacher/librarian can help students develop a metacognitive understanding of these feelings, so as not to be stalled or give up. Other models may assume guidance/coaching but describe the learner rather than what the teacher/librarian is doing.
I've designed many inquiry learning units - and there are lots of models you can follow or tweak. Danny Callison has a number of "information search and use models" listed in his Blue Book on Information Age Inquiry, Instruction and Literacy including my own which begins with engagement and is transformational.
You're absolutely right about what's important --- a consistent model with common language agreed-upon by everyone that enables articulation throughout the school. In my experience as a consultant, this will take three years of planning and roll-out. You'll need more than a proposal to get buy-in from your school community.