The #michED chat is a grassroots effort dedicated to giving teachers, students, and parents across Michigan a bigger voice in the conversation about education in our state. We welcome all voices through a variety of projects, media, and social networking. We’re trying to address educational issues through apolitical conversation, spreading ideas and stories of success from Michigan classrooms across the state, and helping teachers and students regain the courage to connect and demonstrate that schools in Michigan are creating amazing opportunities for learning. We want the face and voice of education in Michigan to be a mural of shared experiences and positive examples of connected learning.
Hello I’m Kylie, an Adrian College Education student. Inquiry is always important when learning because asking questions clears up any confusion, and also can lead into more educational conversation. #michED#TED108@MichelleK929
I am an secondary ed student at the University of Michigan. We have learned a lot about inquiry-based learning and am interested in hearing what the general thoughts are on it. #michED
A1: Inquiry is important if we are to move from teaching to learning focus. Students engaged in purposeful activities and study leads to long term retention and interest. #MichEd
A1a: Inquiry based instruction looks like students being more active and doing more work than teachers. Essential questions that lead to understanding of content. #MichED
A3: You need enough instruction and classroom management to ensure the students know what they are doing/expected to do, in addition to the freedom to choose how to explore the learning objective. There also is a level of engaging curiosity that drives the learning. #MichEd
A1: Inquiry is important because student Qs and captivating problems help Ss dig deeper into the material. A1a: less focus on right answer and more focus on how to get answers. #miched
A2: You need enough instruction and classroom management to ensure the students know what they are doing/expected to do, in addition to the freedom to choose how to explore the learning objective. There also is a level of engaging curiosity that drives the learning. #MichEd
A2) As a science/math T, I like to think that an important element is phenomena. But in reality, the first step is to determine what is the question or problem Ss must investigate. #miched
A2: I feel, like any system, there are several ways to include inquiry. Common threads:
Setting the stage for students to discover the meaning.
Rich tasks that lead to deep Qs.
Learn processes to solve prob/make connections rather than to just learn the process. #miched
A2: I feel, like any system, there are several ways to include inquiry. Common threads:
Setting the stage for students to discover the meaning.
Rich tasks that lead to deep Qs.
Learn processes to solve prob/make connections rather than to just learn the process. #miched
A2: I keep feeling like the Karate Kid had a good education, but he didn't know why he was doing what he was doing until later.
Inquiry, brings the why to the forefront. #miched
yes! Great point. We expect students to know how to develop good questions. It is hard work and needs gradual release, at all levels, regardless of previous practice. #MichED
A3: One project that 8th grade Social Studies Ss did this year was @StudentCam .
Ss chose selected provision of U.S. Constitution and created documentary answering the question about why that provision was important to them. #miched
A3: My Ss do a lot of project-based inquiry. Projects that ask:
What is the problem?
Why is it a problem?
What can I do to solve it?
Does my prototype work?
If not, why not?
Lots of iterations are created. #MichEd
We sometimes struggle with taking our STEM activities beyond collaborative problem-solving (building a better mouse trap, etc...) and having students construct new meaning around the task. How can they articulate what they added to knowledge? #miched
A3: As often as I can, I give Ss the chance to find their own patterns and rules for things. We then discuss pros/cons of different processes.
Other great projects around ancient Greeks in early world humanities. #miched
Do you ever do the reverse? For example give the students a pattern to create with @strawbees / Keva Blocks? Does that help with pattern recognition? #MichEd
Do you ever do the reverse? For example give the students a pattern to create with @strawbees / Keva Blocks? Does that help with pattern recognition? #MichEd
Yes! Not with those specific tools.
Strawbees looks cool for the coding and this summer I'm going to try and figure out how to get more coding back into math curriculum. #miched#summerproject
A3: As a school librarian, I collaborate and facilitate a variety of inquiry project: those that require students to research and create a product based on their findings and those that require physical exploration such as maker challenges. #miched#MISchoolLibrary
I used to do a lot of TI-84 basic programming, but lost it when I didn't have same Ss all year and others didn't want to also program. I think that we can do it (especially in Geo!) but I need to find an easy way to sell to others. #miched
A4 - The product is the result of the research - I think Ss often rush to the product - but I think it's the process that will translate to other areas and invigorate their learning! #miched
A4: The researching process is more important in my opinion than the product. Being able to rule out inadequate/irrelevant information and focus on reliable information is a big factor of learning. #michED#TED108
A4: One of my great joys as an educator is teaching Ss "how" to learn. I think they learn much during the research process that can be applied in many aspects of their lives and prepare them for college & career. #miched
The librarian heart in me is screaming "YES"! And, more importantly, the end product will not be good if the inquiry process is not understood and followed. #MichED
A4: The researching process is more important in my opinion than the product. Being able to rule out inadequate/irrelevant information and focus on reliable information is a big factor of learning. #michED#TED108
A4: Product could be made important if they had authentic audience. Real probs, real audience, need for clear summary of work, give meaning to the product they create. #miched
A4: The value in research in classrooms is the process. How are you coming to the product? What did you learn? People get caught up in the final project. I love the idea of Invention Convention where you explore, research, and create a product that may not be functional. #MichEd
A4 Pricess is so important to really be able to research, evaluate & synthesize, but the product is how they share what they’ve learned so it is equally as important. #miched
Definitely agree. Students (especially younger ones) need help to develop their understanding of seeking out information and skills on their own. #miched
A4: I agree that an important part of the experience is the opportunity for students to share what they've learned. Self-reflection is important as well. #miched
A4 Pricess is so important to really be able to research, evaluate & synthesize, but the product is how they share what they’ve learned so it is equally as important. #miched
How do you deal with the "This is stupid" response? I get the sense that it's being used when Ss don't understand the bigger purpose of understanding the skills or information. #MichEd
A5: There isn't a library specialist in my school. If there were, I would love to have someone to bounce ideas off of and see if they have resources to help me achieve Ss success. #miched
A5: As a library media specialist, I collaborate with Ts and provide lessons on website evaluation, types of resources, ethical use of information as well as supporting technology integration for inquiry products and more! #miched
A5: We have a specialist. She has a wealth of resources for us. She is constantly sharing ideas that support us. While she doesn't know math, she has a world of resources that support what we are trying to do. #miched
If you have a library media specialist or teacher librarian, make sure you are collaborating! Don't be afraid to ask for resources and partnered activities. #MichEd
A5: As a library media specialist, I collaborate with Ts and provide lessons on website evaluation, types of resources, ethical use of information as well as supporting technology integration for inquiry products and more! #miched
A5: Today's library media specialists are more than books (although we love books too!) I play multiple roles in the school to support the entire school community. https://t.co/FPmqRIQZHm#miched#MISchoolLibrary
We added a small collaborative learning space (4 flat screens and one large one with casting and ikea furniture) so our elementary students could add collaborative open-source research and reporting to the library. Thank you PTO. #miched
A5 - When I was in the classroom I was blessed to work with great librarians. With the fake news culture and distrust that permeates media coupled with their expertise in research they're more important than ever! #miched
Good opportunity for conversations. Find the break down in understanding. Work on the areas where choice is involved. And....some will still think it's stupid! Great opportunity for relationship building. #MichED
