Fieldbased Inquiry

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Field-based Inquiry

• Dr. Lo Tin Yau Joe
• 12/9/2009

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1. Inquiry - meanings

• answering questions ?
• exploring causes and solving problems ?
• confronting issues ?
• clarifying values?
• constructing/reconstructing concepts?

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2. Inquiry a strategy/process

• observation? raising questions? making
  predictions? testing hypotheses? creating
  theories and conceptual models
• other alternative pathways?

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3. Model of social inquiry
Doubt-concern
Problem formulation
Formulation of hypotheses
Theory - values
Definition of terms - Conceptualization
Collection of data
Evaluation and analysis of data
Testing hypotheses Driving generalizations and
theories
Beginning inquiry anew
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4. Planning and designing

• reference to the curriculum guide/ unit or lesson
  plan (connectivity/curriculum fit)
• backward mapping learning outcomes (concepts?
  skills? values?)
• what to teach and learn? how to teach and learn?
  how to assess?

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5. Inquiry in LS

• knowledge is socially constructed and mediated
  (conceptual changes)
• connectivity space, time , spacetime
• perspective consciousness?
• perspective transformation
• values clarifications/conflict resolutions

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6. Inquiry instruments/methods

• textual multi-text
• dialogic questioning?
• social
• scientific

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7. Bedrock

• challenging assumptions
• problematizing the unproblematic
• seeing old issue in new frame and context
• knowledge is tentativesubject to contextual and
  temporal changes

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8. Pre-trip

• prior knowledge/concepts and skills of students
• designs inquiry issues/research agenda,
  instruments/methods, activities/learning/assessmen
  t tasks, expected learning outcomes, assessment
  rubrics, extension activities
• data to be collected (multiple sources)
• group? individual?

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8. Pre-trip (cont)

• part to whole
• formal and informal curricula inter-linkage
• background information/resources
• pre-trip briefing session(s) and/or workshops (if
  necessary)

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9. In the field

• overview? specific
• group work one site multiple tasks or
  multiple sites one task
• inter-exhibit/inter-site connectivity
• inquiry process and context interdisciplinary?
• interactive people and objects people and
  people

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9. In the field (cont)

• time on tasks
• observational? descriptive? explanatory?
  affective? exploratory? comparative?
• diverse abilities and responses (unintended
  outcomes?)
• teachers observation and field notes for
  debriefing

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10. Post-trip

• data interpretation and analysis (triangulation)
  distinguishing facts from opinions
• oral presentations (jigsawing) and peer reviews
  for improvement
• deficiencies and remedies
• written or non-written reports

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10. Post-trip (cont)

• self-reflection and meta-cognition
• feedback for assessment
• re-conceptualization
• extension activities?

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11. Some problems and issues to be addressed

• peripheral contentsgt core/key concepts
• discrete contents/facts gt learning experiences
• inquiry questions ? fact finding? (frame of
  reference? scope/sequence? flow?)
• worksheets - connectivity
• isolated/orphan skills

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11. Some problems and issues to be addressed
(cont)

• level of difficulties low? high?
• transferability of knowledge through application?
• repetitionsgt variations (levels of progression)
• cognitivegt non-cognitive (social,
  contextual/physical, affective, behavioural)
• technology-assisted?

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• data interpretations gt data analysis
  (triangulation)?
• evidence-based ?
• curriculum-connected?
• educative rubrics?
• learning in action through reflections?