Teaching as Inquiry

Karen Melhuish Spencer | | Te Toi Tupu & CORE Education

A journey of a thousand steps

Our learners – what do we know? •  Where are they from? •  What are they strong

in? •  What can we build on? •  What do they need

help with? •  Where are there

potential barriers to progress in different contexts?

Who? | You! •  How do you

prefer to manage your learning?

•  What works well?

•  What is challenging for you?

Why? | Adaptive experts “…inquiry should not be seen as an add-on or a project, but rather as a way of professional being for the educator of the 21st century.” - Reid, 2004, p. 8

How? Inquiry can be: •  collaborative inquiry (such as data

analyses, discussions about best

practice, peer observations and peer

feedback)

•  self review (programme reviews and

action research)

•  documented personal reflections

(such as journals and portfolios)

•  reflection in action.

“To strengthen performance management systems, data about student achievement needs to be the basis for the professional learning goals teachers set, and the reference point against which teachers and leaders measure the improvements that have been made with respect to professional growth and impacts for learners.”

Good habits for teachers •  Clear, precise questions

focused on students’ needs, based on information

•  Close observation of students feeding in all the time

•  Quick response to learners’ needs as you discover what’s required

•  On-going and continuous •  Critical discussion about what

strategies are woring – and which need to change

Good systems for schools

•  Inquiry as reflection in portfolios •  Focus on reflection as part of

appraisal •  PD that focused on inquiries •  Research projects and self-review

that informed planning •  Groups of teachers reviewing data

and discussing next steps together

What? | Frame a tight question based on data

1.  How can I teach writing better using digital technologies?

2.  What’s happening in other schools with e-learning?

3.  How can I use a collaborative writing tool to engage those identified students who need support at the drafting stage?

What? | What’s going on for learners?

•  Student data (qual/quant) •  Observation •  Video/photo/record ‘on the

fly’ •  Discussion with the

students •  Discussions with whānau/

community

What? | How can I learn more about what to do?

•  Readings •  PD •  Connect to other schools/

teachers •  Critical discussion with

colleagues •  Lesson observation •  Shared teaching

What? | What can I do differently? •  Review why I do what I do now •  Discuss with other colleagues •  Open to learning

conversations

•  Observe other teachers •  Visit other schools •  Research; connect

What? | Have we made enough of a difference?

•  Student data (qual/quant) •  Observation •  Discussion with the students •  Relationships with whānau/

community

Further reading… •  ERO Reports on inquiry: http://www.ero.govt.nz/National-Reports •  Leading inquiry at teacher level – Ed Leaders •  Key Competencies and teaching as inquiry •  Inquiry-based practice – INSTEP •  NZC Online inquiry stories •  Teaching as inquiry – Green Bay High •  Teaching as inquiry – Noeline Wright •  Teachers’ portfolios – Karen’s Pinterest page

Image credits by slide number. Sourced via CC Search 1.  Image: http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1425/5183639345_65a12e56f8_o.jpg

2.  http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/47/83/1478338_1968fd81.jpg

3.  Timperley & Earle, 2012

4.  Karen Melhuish Spencer adapted from Simon Sinek

5.  Image: http://farm1.staticflickr.com/32/42542272_d2a781b838_o.jpg

6.  Image: http://farm1.staticflickr.com/32/42542272_d2a781b838_o.jpg

7.  Image http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Yemen_Chameleon.jpg

8.  ImAge: http://www.aacu.org/ocww/volume40_3/images/OCWW_Cover_UPortland.jpg

9.  http://www.edtalks.org/video/professional-learning-makes-difference-students

10.  Image: http://www.iaa.ro/Articole/Opinii/7-motive-sa-te-intereseze-big-data/6272.html

11.  Image: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2677/4220139405_7c711a7111_o.jpg

12.  Image http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Structure_Paris_les_Halles.jpg

13.  http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4140/4767700249_9aec118657.jpg

14.  Image: http://cdn0.cosmosmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/opportunistic%20science.jpg

15.  ImAge: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7038/6941225411_b0b21a5f0d_o.jpg

16.  Image: http://careergirlnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/life-changes.jpg

17.  Image http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6136/5948710526_aebb479cac_o.jpg

18.  http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/Articles/Article.aspx?ArticleId=7880