Let’s go over some terminology to begin with:
Information Processing is an Instructional Model that teaches students to access organized process information. It relies on discussion and sharing among participants. The lessons will begin with a problem – a question that serves as a focal point for students. The steps to follow would be: Identify the problem, form a hypothesis, gather data, analyze data, and form a solution. Indirect Instruction is the student centered strategy designed to teach thought questions and to promote discovery learning. Some of the types of methods that are associated with Indirect Instruction strategy are: Problem solving, case studies, inquiry, reflective discussion, concept attainment, concept formation, concept mapping, and reading for meaning. With time limitations and the goal of learning about these methods, my professor designed an assignment that allowed us all to find out about the different methods. Each of us investigated one method and created a treasure hunt where we applied our findings.
Treasure hunts are linked here.
Designing a Treasure Hunt was similar to my experience when creating the WebQuest. I was more familiar with the technical processes of searching, resizing, copying, pasting and saving images. I still went a little crazy about finding the best pictures and just sticking with what I found because time is very restricted these days! The process of creating a treasure hunt enriched my educational and personal life! Through searching, reading, analyzing, designing, and synthesizing information I am using the same learning methods we are expecting our students to use. Its important for me to remember that the best learning is a process that involves struggle and thought!
My assignment was specifically about open inquiry so I had to process information about that method throughout the construction of my Treasure Hunt. After I gathered data I analyzed it and decided to build few small questions and only one big question about open inquiry for the professionals that will be using my treasure hunt. As educators we are always striving to refine and improve our level of understanding about our methods. When learned well and executed properly, open inquiry is liberating for both teacher and student and develops actual thinking skills, not just factual recollection. The value in this is something that, in our hectic profession, is frequently missed.
Open Inquiry is an information processing approach where students generate questions and design their own investigation with teacher guidance. Open Inquiry is the highest level and should be an integral part of students learning!
Please click at the end of this sentence to learn about the different levels of inquiry learning.
The Inquiry C ontinuum graph.doc
Why is standardized testing a limiting factor in utilizing Open Inquiry?
With the advent of NCLB and more and more standardized testing, processes that encourage methods such as open inquiry have become increasingly difficult to implement in schools. Routine and specific answers to questions are what we are now required to teach our students. Our ability to use creativity and make professional decisions about what and how our students should learn is becoming difficult. "Teaching to the test" and the "factory" model of learning is dominating schools and we, as professionals, should fight this change and use methods like open inquiry to challenge our students into thinking critically and using their natural inquisitiveness to answer questions that are important to them. While I know that open inquiry takes time and a lot of planning, the results will benefit the students both in their performance on standardized tests and their ability to question what they are being taught. We are trying to create thinkers and not robots! When organized and written into unit plans, open inquiry activities are possible and beneficial. Allow yourself to disagree with the status quo, verbalize this opposition, and show that critical thinking methods such as open inquiry work just as well, if not better, than the requirements and methods imposed upon us by the state. Thank you for your participation in my treasure hunt and I hope it has brought some amount of new information and potential processes into your practice!
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