What does Inquiry in Social Studies Look Like?

1. Inquiry Rubric - frames what inquiry is. Teachers can self assess themselves using this rubric

1.1. authenticity, academic rigour, assessment, life skills, appr. use of technology, active exploration, connecting with experts, elaborated communication, compassion

2. Integrate what you really love into whatever you teach - makes you more passionate

3. Studying what it is to be human

3.1. Content about real world and what it means to be human

4. How to know if you're a good teacher: if your students are producing work worth doing and of lasting value

5. Student thinking and work should be rooted in the real world

6. Inquiry is about a driving question - finding ways to connect to a deeper issue

6.1. The hardest part is coming up with a good engaging question

6.2. Need to choose the right resource to hook kids

7. Getting involved in the community and community issues - Active Citizenship

8. Critical Thinking - "unpacking" things

8.1. Weigh evidence

8.2. Identify bias

8.3. Determine perspective

9. Historical Thinking

9.1. "Benchmarks of Historical Thinking" website - very good resource: historicalthinking.ca

10. Thoroughline Questioning

10.1. Asks provocative and relevant questions

10.2. Encourages students and teachers to make connections between:

10.2.1. Self

10.2.2. Subject Matter

10.2.3. Society in which they live

11. Example of good iquiry question: Does Calgary have the conditions necessary to become a Renaissance city?

11.1. Engages students in: research, being an expert, question formulation, discussion facilitating, documentation, debating - because it ***connects subject matter to society

12. Critical or Dangerous Teaching

12.1. Engages students in thinking about what and how they learn in schools

12.2. Students critique society, schools, and thus makes them more aware

13. Empower students to have an impact

14. Take learning outside of school

15. Makes students aware of which way of thinking they are nurturing - Habits of the Mind