In the Inquiry Mindset book, authors Trevor MacKenzie and Rebecca Bathurst-Hunt describe Free inquiry as the most powerful type. When students reach the free inquiry stage, they should have already experienced the three other types of inquiry beforehand. It is essential that students have at least experienced guided inquiry prior to a free inquiry project because they need to understand how to question and observe.
Trevor MacKenzie and Rebecca Bathurst-Hunt propose a framework for a “Free Inquiry Proposal”:
- “What is your essential question? Why is it meaningful to you?” This question not only deepens the learners connection to their question, but also allows teachers to assist their learners in their journey.
- “What is your authentic piece? How will you make your learning public?” When students decide how they want to demonstrate their learning they are more likely to engage the audience they are presenting to.
- “What will you read, research, and study to help explore your essential question?” The authors highlight the usefulness of the teacher librarian in this situation. They hold a wealth of knowledge on so many resources that are likely to help each student study their inquiry topic. Additionally, the authors mention a “wonder wall”.
- “What are your goals for your Free Inquiry?” This question in particular steers students away from aiming for a letter grade of percentage to label their work. Instead it requires them to dive deeper into what or who they are really for.
- “What learning evidence will you gather to capture everything you are learning about your essential question?” Here, students reflect on the research strategies they already know how to use. In this process, students autonomously identify their learning style.
- “What is your plan?” For older students, this means students track their own progress and set their own goals. In the younger years, the teacher will create a collective class calendar to use for children to keep on track with their inquiries.
One thing I have taken away from this week’s reading is that pursuing a Free Inquiry takes lots of time and preparation. The authors advise new teachers especially to hold off on Free Inquiry for a longer amount of time until they have enough knowledge from performing the other types of inquiry.
All of this information is from:
MacKenzie, T., & Bathurst-Hunt, R. (2018). Inquiry mindset: Nurturing the dreams, wonders & curiosities of our youngest learners. EdTechTeam Press.