Making+Meaning+-+Learning+Through+Inquiry

This lecture was presented by Dr. Grant Wiggins.

The following are the notes that I recorded from his session.

I am also including the PowerPoint that was presented during Dr. Wiggins lecture.
 * Prioritize curriculum around inquiry.
 * Leading questions - direct students (need, but do not over do it).
 * Start with questions that will hold student engagement - "the hook"
 * Begin with questions, NOT answers.
 * Use current examples: movies, books, games
 * The question is the curriculum, not the content.
 * The question is the engager.
 * Tell the students why you are asking the questions.
 * Content is the means for exploring the question.
 * Make questions interesting and important.
 * If you make the students interested int he questions, then they will want to learn about the questions that are being asked.
 * Engage in "Just in Time" teaching.
 * Example: use podcasts for lectures.
 * Two Biology teachers (one in Virginia and one in Florida) are working on the same material, but via podcasts they can take turns teaching both classes, or the students can take turns and share out work with the other class.
 * Submit questions for peer and student review.
 * Be sure to keep your questions focused on the content.
 * Be able to visit and rethink your essential questions.
 * Essential questions leads to understanding.
 * Good questions will generate more discussion and take the power from the teacher to the students.
 * This will force collaboration and research.
 * Use a "real world" application when ever this is possible.
 * Decide what students are going to be held accountable for.
 * Questioning is important because this allows the students to create their own meanings between questions and content.
 * When you are creating questions, be sure NOT to lead students to the correct answer.
 * DO NOT use single answer/yes/no questions.
 * Real questions have ambuigity and uncertainty!!!