Strategies for Inquiry-Based Learning and Teaching
Ever wondered what the difference is between these student-centred methods of inquiry learning? Read on to find out what makes them different.
Seven essential elements to include in your next PBL to
Ten Inquiry-Based Learning Activities for the Classroom
“8 Strategies To Help Students Ask Great Questions http://t.co/alJo8yIQt0”
The Essentials of #PBL. Resources: @biepbl and @edutopia. Inspired by @ncnewschools #ScalingStem '13.
In the Spring time, it is the perfect time to introduce the life cycle of plants to your students. They are seeing new growth all around them.
Project-based learning teaches students important 21st-century skills, increases engagement, promotes differentiation and simplifies marking.
Much like project-based learning, there are many reasons to use inquiry-based learning in your classroom--starting with creativity and personalization.
If you are getting started with inquiry, you may wonder where to start and how to prepare for something that is student-led. Although using an inquiry
Do you want to get started with project based learning, but you’re not sure how? Maybe project based learning sounds too complicated, in-depth, and overwhelming to you? That’s how I felt when I first delved into PBL. But now I know there is nothing to be afraid of! In this post, I will give a quick explanation of project-based learning and then give you some tips and ideas to begin to implement it in your own classroom. What is Project Based Learning? Project based learning, simply stated, is an authentic learning experience
In simple form, inquiry-based learning is more of a student-directed way of learning rather than teacher-directed. In some cases, teachers may set the general framework for learning, but for the most part, the learning is based on the students questions, ideas and passions. But how do you provoke those questions in the first place? Inquiry-based
My teaching philosophy and goals have evolved many times over the years. Most transformative has been my change to inquiry-based learning.
The difference between project based learning, phenomena based learning, and phenomenon based learning.
Project Based Learning (PBL) is a teaching method in which students learn by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful projects.
Here you find all details of lesson plan template and we are providing a sample lesson plan so download and use weekly lesson plan templates.
Learn how to do differentiated instruction using PBL, a high-interest teaching strategy! Lots of classroom examples and links to resources & videos.
What is PBL? Project-based learning is an approach in which students explore real-world problems and challenges to acquire a deepe...
The Alberta model, Focus on Inquiry reflects the cross-curricular and transferable nature of inquiry-based learning (2004). The revised model is a non-linear approach to the research process where…
A four-step approach to using a powerful model that increases student agency in learning.
Guiding inquiry-based learning centers learning on a solving a particular problem or answering a central question.
Learn the step-by-step process to plan project based learning in this blog post. Then download your free PBL planning guide!
The phases of inquiry-based learning can vary depending on context but generally include Interacting, Clarifying, Questioning, and Designing.
I get multiple emails every day asking for copies of my inquiry planning templates and daily schedules. After clearing all of my emails and trash for the year, I accidentally deleted permanently some emails from people wanting these that I had yet to answer. Since I don't know who they were, I am hoping they will find this page and get the planning pages that they needed and know that I did not ignore them! In this post, I have links to all of my template pdf's in my google drive for you to download. I do all I can to help others on their journey into inquiry based teaching so these are free for you to download. They are not perfect but they have worked for me at different times in my journey as a Reggio Inspired Teacher. You can take the ideas and change them to work for you in your situation and environment, but they will give you a base to work from as you make your own. When planning for Inquiry/Project based learning, it takes a lot of time up front, but then planning is easy for the rest of the inquiry which can last up to a month. Planning an Inquiry always starts with observing the students. Once I notice a large group interest, I find out what they know and wonder. I take that information and start planning. Right now, my favorite planning tool is a simple web map. This web map was created based on the one that the amazing Joanne Babalis created over at http://myclassroomtransformation.blogspot.com. Check her out! She is brilliant! I liked the way she designed it and I can just add more lines where I need them. Sometimes I use this template, but sometimes I just make my own web map with a blank sheet of paper and a pencil. It is a great way to organize my thoughts. You can find this template here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B08gV9mV4K6BMXZ3WnNBdWxzOU0/view?usp=sharing Here is a photo of a handmade one filled out. As I am brainstorming ideas I have the Language Arts and Math Common Core Standards and Science and Social Studies Standards nearby. I made this sheet with all of the language arts and math standards all on one page to make it easy for me. It is amazing how many standards are covered, used, and learned by using the skills authentically during inquiry! I highlight the ones that will be covered. You can download this Common Core list here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B08gV9mV4K6BWURZb2xYRFdoSEE/view?usp=sharing This next inquiry planner is a great way to organize your ideas into the different stages of Inquiry Based Learning and also has an area for project ideas and presentations if you want to go even deeper using Project Based Learning. It literally spells out the process of Inquiry/Project Based Learning. This template was very helpful as I was transitioning from thematic based teaching to Inquiry Based Teaching. You can download the Inquiry planning template above here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B08gV9mV4K6BVkQ4OE5PNWxsbmc/view?usp=sharing Here is one already filled out about our castle inquiry as an example. You can download it here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B08gV9mV4K6BUDBfZG9FcUpjQzg/view?usp=sharing After that, I use many different "weekly" planning papers. This one is more fluid and open ended. It can also last for more than one week. I like the way it makes me plan for the environment as a third teacher. Many of the ideas that end up on my map can happen during our play-based learning block. I find that I use this template more the second half of the year. You can download it here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B08gV9mV4K6Ba0tTWGFGQ2lsVUk/view?usp=sharing Here is an example filled out with plans here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B08gV9mV4K6BaUZDRG5STnhuR0k/view?usp=sharing At the beginning of the year, I usually use my schedule as my planner. Here are two different years. You can download the one above here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B08gV9mV4K6BNGNWM09fN1MyX28/view?usp=sharing And this one here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B08gV9mV4K6BZE1tNUF3N19fbHc/view?usp=sharing These also show what my schedules look like but I will get more into scheduling in another post. They are far from perfect! I am constantly trying to figure out ways to have less transitions in the schedules and I feel that it is always a work in progress! I will be making some major changes to it next year. I am always looking back and reflecting on the previous year and this past year showed me some changes that I need to make. I will share that when I figure it out at the beginning of the next school year. Also know that my schedules are more fluid than they look on paper. If students are really engaged in some part of the day, I may let them have more time and move another planned lesson to the next day. When I use these, I still need to plan my environment as the third teacher so I made a map of my room using Pages on my iPad. This is great to have for substitute teachers so they know what is going on during the play block! I just fill in the invitations to learn, provocations, challenges, and experiences that will be set up in each area. Hopefully providing these links will help you all be able to get these when you want them, rather than having to wait for me to answer your emails! I hope they help! Darla Myers
The past few years I’ve had the opportunity to teach a course entirely through project based learning. Our local university approached a couple of schools in our district and asked us if we were interested in teaching a cross-curricular PBL program where our grade 12 students can earn college credits. Ummmm…. heck yeah! Basically, the ... Read more
Project Based Learning or PBL is the new craze. It is all about student led and future focused. When I first heard about PBL I was a little skeptical. I thought it was awesome and a great way for general education students to work on communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking but I was still stumped on how our students with significant needs were going to be able to do this. If you are still a little confused on what PBL is all about here is a great graphic to show the difference between projects and PBL's. My school is a PBL school and all of us are required to either teach or help with a PBL project each year. Last year I teamed up with our speech paths and we had the kids plan a party to thank all of their friends for helping them throughout the year. While it was a great project and the kids had fun I really wanted to do something more this year. Keep reading to see the project I have planned for this school year. When thinking about planning a PBL project in my severe needs special education class I knew things where going to have to be a little different. Instead of allowing the students free reign I was going to have a provide a lot of scaffolding and allow for the "student led" and "voice and choice" to come through during teacher driven activities. Even though this isn't traditional PBL....our classrooms are not traditional and as long as we are trying that's all that matters. So, what do I have planned for this year? We all know questioning is a huge part of our special education classrooms. Almost all of my students have some sort of "wh" question goal. So, why not teach these through a fun and engaging PBL? Drumroll please..... our PBL project is called "Dream Vacation". I am going to have the kids plan their dream vacation. Throughout this project students will learn all about the "wh" question words. I am planning on only doing this project on Friday's so it will more than likely take us to winter break. I made this bulletin board and plan on hanging our anchor charts up once we have learned about a specific "wh" question word. Our launch item will be this Arthur episode. The hope is that it will get kids to start thinking about vacations. After this I plan to have the kids branch off and watch some videos on different vacation spots. I have some bookmarked showing skiing, swimming, hiking, amusement parks etc. The paras will have a sheet to help the students mark down their favorites. I am then going to have them take it home and have them work with their parents to narrow down what they would like to do. Then each week we will focus on a different "wh" word. They will have to explain "who" is going on the vacation, "where" they are going, "when" they will go, "what" they will do, "how" they will get there and "why" they think it's a good trip. Through learning about the "wh" question words we will start to build their "Dream Vacations". The goal is at the end of the PBL students will be able to showcase their dream vacation. A huge part of PBL's is the public product. I am thinking the kids can create a video, brochure or set up a little area that resembles their vacation. I would love to invite their families, our administration and community members in to see what they came up with. Make sure to check back throughout the year to see how this PBL is shaping up. While attending a PBL conference this summer one major thing stuck with me; PBL's are messy. Don't be afraid to dive in and let the student's take the lead. So, no matter how much my type A personality wants everything to line up perfectly I have to let it go. In the end everyone will learn more and grow. Do you do PBL in your classroom? What projects have you done? If you are interested in learning more about PBL make sure to check out http://www.bie.org/ The Buck Institute for Education does all things PBL and has a ton of information and pre-made projects listed. Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Have you ever paired project based learning and the arts? These 5 PBL lesson ideas can be used in any classroom. Best yet they're easy to plan!
At my school, we use Kath Murdoch’s Inquiry Cycle. Many of our staff are new the PYP and new to inquiry-based teaching and learning, so we find this inquiry cycle provides some structure to t…
History teachers Shara Peters & Jody Passanisi and tech colleague Doug Hinko set out to find practical ways to make PBL work with a unit on medieval China.
Sylvia Duckworth's graphic illustrates questions students can use to guide inquiry-based learning ideas that act as a catalyst for curiosity.
Teaching through PBL can benefit greatly from planning ahead. Here are 25 questions to guide teaching with project-based learning.
For each of the 13 potential outcomes of project-based learning, I added a tip to help increase the chance that this potential is realized.
Project-based learning is a whole different type of learning activity. Students think outside of the box during PBL, so how do you assess them? A test at the end of the project doesn’t seem sufficient with all of the work they’ve put in researching and problem-solving for their project. This is why I use rubrics […]
Here will be listed technology resources to help with the project process – from brainstorming and planning to working and presenting. Organize tasks and information, store and share files, p…
John Larmer of the Buck Institute for Education clears up any confusion on the difference between project-based learning, problem-based learning, and whatever-else-based learning.
There's still a wide range of understanding of what high quality PBL is and how to plan for it. Here's a step-by-step guide.
