Developing Information Literacy - An enquiry into Inquiry Learning: September 2014

Saturday, 6 September 2014

FINAL POST

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Well what a journey and still going. I have learnt much about Inquiry Based models but feel I have learnt more about searching on the internet.

I started with Google, strayed for a little while and tried Google Scholar, then went back to Google. I then ventured forward once more to two Search Engines I had not used before, A+ Education and ProQuest Education.

Useful websites all for particular uses. For everyday searches you dont need to go past Google though. It has improved much in the years it has been reverberating around in Cyber Space.

In regards to Inquiry Based Learning I think my last question from my initial post got overlooked in the search for connections between the Australian Curriculum overcrowding. I feel very strongly about this issue as I know that teachers all feel pressured and unable to deliver the program and environment that they believe to be the best for learning.

PEER FEEDBACK

Hi Alison

Your blog looks well set out. I can fully relate to that sense of guilt you have portrayed in the first paragraph re ‘doing more’ as a teacher. I think all teachers feel that and should not have to. I also agree that Inquiry Learning as a pedagogy and other pedagogies can be overwhelming when it can and should be simple. I think that some bureaucrats are guilty of complicating things to achieve their own agendas that have nothing to do with us at the coal face.

One thing I noticed was that you had quoted Kuhlthau quite often and just before your three questions, had almost back to back quotes. I didn’t know if it was an overuse or not. Perhaps have another read and see what I mean. Well done and good luck with your studies.

Hello Karly

I think your Annotated Bibliography is well set out and very easy to read and gives a well rounded summary of each source. You have written a lot which worries me as I don’t know that I will be able to do that with all of mine.

One piece of feedback is that I found some of the links did not work so you may need to go back and address that. Otherwise, well done.

Hello Cindy

You have set our your A+ Education search journey in a linear and easy to follow model. This makes the reader feel comfortable especially when you admit to being uncomfortable and in unknown waters. Your search made sense to me and also made me feel that it was okay not to feel happy with a search engine or the results you achieved. One improvement may be to try and make the screenshots a little clearer and easier to read but I liked not having an overcrowded page that gave me relevant and to the point information. Well done.

ESSAY

Inquiry Learning Running Out of Time

The ‘new’ Australian Curriculum has seven General Capabilities and three Cross-Curriculum Priorities and none of them refer to Inquiry Based Learning. This leads you to believe that an Inquiry Based or constructivist model is not something that the curriculum supports or is written for. However, if you delve further into the Curriculum, you will find that it is more a case of interweaving the constructivist approach across all Learning Areas and amongst learning continuua and content descriptors. As McIlvenny (2013) states in her journal article, “My initial disappointment, therefore, turned to guarded optimism that what we have been championing for years had finally found a legitimate voice in the national curriculum (albeit scattered throughout learning areas and crosscurricular contexts). While they may not be ‘packaged’ as inquiry learning skills, these competencies are most definitely present.”

So salutations to our prototype national curriculum. We can all be assured that a model of inquiry learning is supported throughout the Curriculum and know that, “In the classroom Inquiry Learning means student-centred hands-on activities, which relate to real life situations and events. Inquiry Learning not only encourages students to actively construct their own knowledge and bring personal ideas and concepts to the learning experience, but encourages them to make changes in their attitudes and behaviours (Kuhlthau, Maniotes, & Caspari, 2007). The various scatterings of inquiry based learning throughout the Australian Curriculum does not sound like enough to allow teachers to do this in their classrooms on a daily basis? The Overview on the Australian Curriculum website states, “The Australian Curriculum sets consistent high standards for what all young Australians should learn as they progress through schooling. It prepares Australia’s next generation for the future and lays the building blocks for generations to come. The Australian curriculum focuses on learning area content and achievement standards that describe what students will learn and teachers will teach.” This does not sound like the words you would hope to hear when encouraging a learning model which incorporates a constructivist approach, “in which students have ownership of their learning”.

Teachers and Principals are the managers of the curriculum in real terms, in busy classrooms. The Australian Primary Principal’s Association website has information on it in regard to a Submission to the Australian Government Review of the Australian Curriculum which was submitted on 5 March this year. It states, “The document identifies major issues requiring attention in any review process potentially leading to revision of the curriculum. The principal issue highlighted is the overcrowding of the curriculum which imposes unrealistic expectations regarding what can be covered in the primary school year and stretches the expertise of teachers.” When I went to the submission page and put in Control + f and typed in overcrowding, there was 8 instances just on the first page. This is a common discussion around staff rooms and schools. Are we trying to feed too much content to our students at the risk of losing their interest as we simply don’t have time to go with Inquiry based models? Most website or journals I have read in regard to inquiry based learning models, project based learning models or constructivist models mostly talk of activities that start with the student generating the ideas and genres. They then go at the students’ pace and in the direction the students’ take it. The truth is they remind me of the 60’s - peace and love etc because unfortunately many classrooms we teach in do not look like that.

The Learning Areas that teachers will be expected to teach leading up to 2017 are:

Languages

That is without any Religion taught by Christian, Catholic and other denominational schools, values or social and emotional learning curriculum, meditation time, whole school or part school celebrations and the myriad of other usually healthy distractions that come a teachers way.

The latest edition of Education Today (2014 Vol 14 (3) Term 3) contains an article entitled, “For students of the national curriculum, history never repeats”. The article talks about the fact that for so many years History as a subject has not been stand-alone and the fact that it was one of the four first subjects to be chosen to be included in the Australian Curriculum was heralded widely amongst History teachers and notables. The article then goes on to raise concerns, “For many educators, especially in the primary sector, this rang alarm bells – the “crowded curriculum” is a very real concern and mandating the teaching of history as a discrete subject would only increase pressure on teachers.” The Australian Curriculum is very content laden. The Australian Primary Principals’s Association in its submission states, “It is our view that the subsequent additions of subject areas have not addressed the implications for content volume.”

The Australian Curriculum in its current form is therefore a threat to pedagogical models that base themselves on inquiry and being student-centred. Inquiry based learning is, “ It starts with exploration and questioning and leads to investigation into a worthy question, issue, problem or idea. It involves asking questions, gathering and analysing information, generating solutions, making decisions, justifying conclusions and taking action.” On his blog, Khalil Gibran says, “Pedagogy is defined as “any conscious activity by one person designed to enhance learning in another” (Watkins & Mortimer, 1999, p. 3). Inquiry pedagogy therefore, is based around a set of teaching and learning strategies that involve student-centred research and investigation that encourages metacognitive thought processes, discussion and collaboration.

It seems the purpose of the Australian Curriculum is to compete with the world ‘market’ by producing content laden individuals. Unfortunately, having content and knowledge is not necessarily enough to be a learner or most importantly, a grounded, wholly developed person. Carroll defines Inquiry Pedagogy as an understanding about society and its interactions that "requires us to seek out knowledge as well as apply historical skills to determine why events occurred and what motivated the people to take the action they took" (2012). That sounds like a model that will produce a learner and holistic personality.

REFERENCES

Appa.asn.au,. (2014). APPA ~ Submissions. Retrieved 2 September 2014, from http://appa.asn.au/submissions.php

Appa.asn.au,. (2014). Retrieved 5 September 2014, from http://appa.asn.au/submissions/Review-of-Australian-curriculum.pdf

Carroll, K. (2012). Pedagogy Revised. Retrieved from http://leo.acu.edu.au/course/view.php?id=6193

Galileo Educational Network,. (2014). What Is Inquiry?. Retrieved 6 September 2014, from http://galileo.org/teachers/designing-learning/articles/what-is-inquiry/

Inquiringmind.co.nz,. (2014). What is Inquiry?. Retrieved 7 September 2014, from http://www.inquiringmind.co.nz/WhatIsInquiry.htm

Inquiry learning within the Australian curriculum: Part two

McIlvenny, Leonie :Access, Vol. 27, No. 2, June 2013: 14-18

Retrieved: 3 September 2014 http://search.informit.com.au/

Kuhlthau, C., Maniotes, L., & Caspari, A. (2007). Guided Inquiry: Learning in the 21st Century. London: Libraries Unlimited

Minnisjournals.com.au,. (2014). For students of the national curriculum, history never repeats - Education Today. Retrieved 7 September 2014, from http://www.minnisjournals.com.au/educationtoday/article/For-students-of-the-national-curriculum-435

The Australian Curriculum v7.1. (2010).Retrieved September 5, 2014, from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/.

Watkins, C. and Mortimer, P. (1999). Pedagogy: what do we know? In P. Mortimer (Ed), Understanding Pedagogy and its Impact on Learning, (pp. 20-45). London: Paul Chapman Publishing Ltd.

21st Century HSIE,. (2014). Inquiry Pedagogy. Retrieved 3 September 2014, from http://21stcenturyhsie.weebly.com/inquiry-pedagogy.html

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Information Based Learning Vs Content Based Learning

http://www.inquirylearn.com/Inquirydef.htm

I found this website to be written passionately and personally about Inquiry Based Learning. The author talks about learning and experiences that are personal and intrinsic to the student. She refers to the cyclical nature of the theory and that if the experiences and outcomes are meaningful to the learner then they will be applied and shared with others. The author believes there is motivation to initiative social change from people who have developed in this way, there is a positiveness for global change.

The website good for a personal insight into Inquiry Based Learning and also the Guiding Principles for the Author's pedagogy were a good reference point.

Inquiry learning within the Australian curriculum: Part two
McIlvenny, Leonie :Access, Vol. 27, No. 2, June 2013: 14-18

Retrieved: 3 September 2014 http://search.informit.com.au/

Link

This website addresses the Australian Curriculum in regard to Inquiry Based Learning with enthusiasm although admitting that Information skills were only sprinkled throughout the curriculum. The author drew up very informative tables that aligned the inquiry/information process with any frameworks or content descriptors within the curriculum. Nowhere did it mention time or overcrowding as factors.

I used the website to illuminate the lack of focus the Australian Curriculum gave to Inquiry models by not having a Capability that addressed it solely. The website was relevant to building my argument.

http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/our-publications/every-child-magazine/every-child-index/every-child-vol-18-2-2012/inquiry-learning-deep-learning-free-article/

When I first read this article I felt empowered. The language is forceful almost and says in no uncertain terms what they believe is important for a young child's learning. The statement "Inquiry Learning is Deep Learning" says it all and it is backed up with examples of learning experiences. A sense of respect for children radiates from the pages and they will not settle for second best.

Great article generally to inform the reader on Inquiry Based Learning and what it is about and how it functions. Good examples also.

http://appa.asn.au/submissions.php

This website and particular submission/report that I referred to was significant to my argument. It is from a National Principal's body and therefore is a very credible source. Coupled with that it has currency and was a submission to be given to the Government Review of the Australian Curriculum. The fact that it openly and strongly stated that its greatest concern was an over crowded curriculum is to be taken seriously.

Very relevant to my argument that Inquiry Based Learning is not able to survive in such a content heavy curriculum with huge time constraints.

http://21stcenturyhsie.weebly.com/inquiry-pedagogy.html

This blog was curious because its author was not a traditional teacher. He had Done a Bachelor of Arts and years in Public Relations before doing a degree in teaching. Here he is now blogging on Inquiry Based Learning. The site uses some strong arguments for IBL and most of them are from well respected sources. I would be interested to read more of the Author's blog in the future.

The blog was relevant to me to be able to cite the strength and necessity of having Inquiry Based Learning. However, it did not have anything in regard to how to manage IBL in the current curriculum.

http://www.minnisjournals.com.au/educationtoday/article/For-students-of-the-national-curriculum-435

This website only dealt with the Australian Curriculum in regard to History. However, the author was able to relay to the reader the excitement and professional satisfaction that the History community felt at History being introduced as a subject on its own once again. Importantly, the website also voiced grave concerns in regard to time constraints of an overcrowded curriculum especially in the Primary sector.

Very relevant to my argument and stated quite strongly, although from only one Learning Area's perspective.

http://www.inquiringmind.co.nz/WhatIsInquiry.htm

This website is very well organised and serves to initiate the reader to IBL. It links with various Learning Areas, gives examples of activities, it also has suggestions for any problems encountered and gives practical advice. I could not see anything on there in regard to obstacles relating to the time constraints of the Australian Curriculum.

The relevancy of the sight was for the reader to learn and gain insights into IBL. It further cemented my believe though that the present curriculum and the further proposed one will not be compatible with IBL models of pedagogy.

Kuhlthau, C.; Maniotes, L. and Caspari, A, (2012). Chapter 1 : Guided Inquiry Design: The Process, the Learning, and the Team. In Kuhlthau, C.; Maniotes, L. and Caspari, A, Guided inquiry design : a framework for inquiry in your school, (pp.1 – 15). Santa Barbara: Libraries Unlimited.

This article sets out IBL and what is at the heart of it. It delves deeply but is written simply. It has an flow chart of a Guided Inquiry Design Process that is far duller than more recent models and is actually linear. I have heard it said that the author should update the graphics she presents but

I believe this author knows the content completely and I find the content easy to read and gain meaning from.

This was a set reading and other than that it lent nothing to my argument in regard to the overcrowded curriculum and its affect on IBL. I did however gain a deeper insight into IBL by reading it.

Curation Tool

http://www.pinterest.com/grant2449/inquiry-learning/

SEARCHING PROQUEST

PROQUEST

Search Title	Hits	Noteworthy	Uses
inquiry based learning AND overcrowded curriculum	771 hits		Too broad and the results are mainly not relevant
inquiry based learning AND overcrowded curriculum AND primary	630 hits		Too broad and the results are mainly not relevant
inquiry learning AND overcrowded curriculum NOT science	90 hits		Too broad and the results are mainly not relevant
inquiry learning OR overcrowded curriculum NOT science	40553

Most of the hits I got on this website were American-based and not very relevant to our curriculum or system.

I continued searching using different terms hoping that would help.

Unfortunately nothing very useful was found here. They search engine did not recognised inquiry learning very often and the overcrowded curriculum usually related to other things.

Tuesday, 2 September 2014

SEARCHING A+ EDUCATION

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A+ Education

Ohhhh that sinking feeling but it is a learning journey after all and so we learn!

Search Title	Hits	Noteworthy	Uses
Inquiry Learning and the Australian curriculum	48 hits	A journal article by Leonie McIlvenny titled Inquiry learning within the Australian curriculum: Part two	Unfortunately the journal has to be purchased. Not sure if article refers to the overcrowded curriculum.
Inquiry Learning and the Australian curriculum - after I logged in through QUT	359 hits	There may have been more journals but not many more were relevant	Leone McIlvenny’s article
Inquiry learning %10 and the Australian curriculum	283 hits	I tried applying one of the search hints from the website to phrases. The results were not much different.
Inquiry Learning and the overcrowded curriculum	1 hit		Not relevant
Inquiry Learning within the overcrowded curriculum	0 hits
The overcrowded curriculum	40 hits	Australian Council for Educational Administration	A lot of the hits refer to particular Learning Areas

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The Search hints are interesting and slightly varied from other search engine. I like the way you can search for a word within ten words of another word in order or not.

I learnt a lot about following instructions exactly as written when searching as with different variations you received very different results.

I did not find this site particularly easy to get information from. However, this could be the fact that I had not used it before.

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