Innovative Learning Models

Mindset

Collaborative inquiry-based learning is a pedagogical mindset that positions students’ questions, ideas, theories, and observations at the centre of the learning experience (Scardamalia, 2002). Students wrangle with relevant, authentic problems; and are cognitively engaged in collaborative sense-making, development of evidence-based explanations, and communication of their ideas.

Student Agency

Students are actively engaged with peers in collaborative learning - producing knowledge artefacts and continuously reflecting upon their understandings and their process (Bruner, 1961; Dewey, 1938; Papert, 1980).

Learning Community

This approach to teaching and learning is underpinned by the idea that educators and students together form a classroom learning community that collectively shares responsibility for learning and idea improvement through regular discussion (Scardamalia, 2002).

Role of the Educator

Educators have a critical role in facilitating the inquiry process, offering content knowledge/resources just-in-time. Educators facilitate collaborative inquiry by adopting a learner stance as a member of their classroom learning community to model: how to question, how to share and build-upon the community’s ideas, how to test or investigate ideas/theories, how to synthesize ideas/information/evidence to draw conclusions and devise future inquiry directions. Educators also introduce provocations that spark student curiosity and interest; hold potential for rich inquiry opportunities; or bring students toward cognitive conflict - perhaps as a timely way of confronting a misconception or a knowledge gap.

Range of Approaches

Collaborative inquiry-based learning can be used in combination with other instructional approaches, as the learning context requires - including direct instruction, small-group, and guided learning.

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy

Culturally responsive educators build upon the varied lived experiences of all students in order to bring the curriculum to life. Through this approach, they integrate locally situated learning into daily instruction and learning processes. Constructivist approaches promote inquiry-based learning. They support students to ask questions and create new knowledge based on their natural curiosity about their own experiences. Knowledge building is reciprocal because students play an active role in crafting and developing learning experiences for themselves and their peers. This results in making learning relevant and accessible for all students in the classroom as they are able to see themselves in the curriculum. One resource to support culturally responsive pedagogy is: Culturally Responsive PedagogyTowards Equity and Inclusivity inOntario Schools

Resources to Support Inquiry

• Inquiry-Based Learning

• Getting Started with Student Inquiry;

• Collaborative Inquiry in Ontario: What We Have Learned and Where We Are Now;

• Culturally Responsive Pedagogy Towards Equity and Inclusivity in Ontario Schools;

Project Based Learning (PBL) and Inquiry Learning often work hand in hand.

• Powerful Learning: Studies Show Deep Understanding Derives from Collaborative Methods
• The Buck Institute : resources for professional learning about project-based learning
• Main Course, Not Dessert:How Are Students Reaching 21st Century Goals? John Larmer and John R. Mergendolle
• Through the Philosopher's Lens