This blog is designed to support the development of inquiry skills, disciplinary thinking and problem based learning approaches within social studies, geography and history.
This site is designed to support learning modules offered within the TDSB, however, others can benefit and contribute. Please send any comments or contributions to problembasedlearningtdsb@gmail.com.
This resource contains nine featured activities for using photographs, drawings and paintings as information sources. Four of the activities, highlighted below, are included with a subscription to the Source Docs collection. The complete set is available for purchase. http://tc2.ca/teaching-resources/print-publications/investigating-sources.php
Investigating Sources consists of two collections of online and print resources to help students learn to make effective use of pictures and realistic fiction as sources of information:
·
Teachers and students can land on any part of the inquiry process at any time
Inquiries do not need to go through the whole inquiry process
Aspects of inquiry can be done in 40 minutes
Teachers need to be deliberate about the inquiry focus in the class
Success criteria needs to be developed so teachers and students know what the target is
The inquiry needs to apply some sort of disciplinary understanding (ie. historical, geographical, scientific) so students can articulate what they have learned in these terms.
Jeffrey Whilhelm , Engaging Readers and Writers with Inquiry, 2007
Reflection:
What aspects of inquiry resonate with you?
What challenges do you see?
Consider the following articles from the Ontario Ministry of Education
3) What are the benefits related to the inquiry process?
4) What could the inquiry process (historical focus) look like ?
In this video the presenter explains how the process of inquiry begins with a question, rather than the teacher presenting the key ideas. Then students investigate the content looking at a variety of resources.
5) How do you organize student thinking during an inquiry?
In KB/KC classrooms, students work to identify problems of understanding, create theories, carry out research and investigations in order to refine their theories over time, revise their problems and strategies, and share and monitor the progress of the community towards its goals of advancing knowledge.
Teachers are reflecting on the key aspects of the revised SSHG curriculum and they are examining their practice and considering next steps. See how one teacher is approaching inquiry.
What resonates with you? What questions do you still have/
Voices of other teachers
Inquiry Process
Teacher Voice relating to Inquiry - Our perceptions are important! I used to think… Problem-based learning meant not teaching content and allowing students to research content on their own. I never fully understood how we would be able to teach what they need to know in this way. Now I think… Problem based learning is very important and does not mean that we don't teach content. The content is embedded within the inquiry. As teachers engage in inquiry with their classes, their views about inquiry change. Some of our misconceptions are challenged and we can see how inquiry based learning links with student achievement. 12) Exploring Big Questions (getting started)
Before we generate questions , consider letting students wonder about your provocations. These wonders can then be used to develop questions.See how one teacher incorporate wonder in her class. Wonder Wall Article
http://learningin2025.wikispaces.com/PBL+Samples KADS Global EDU is a consulting firm that originated through the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The videos are first-hand accounts of Problem Based Learning in action in three schools across the United States. The videos summarize PBL projects, and in these videos, the dialogue between teachers, the dialogue between students, and teacher and student reflections are highlighted Problem Based Learning in Social Studies and English http://www.slideshare.net/glennw98/pbl-for-social-studies-language-arts This slideshare provides examples and shows the PBL process. Examining the PBL model I have attached a file that shares some of the benefits of Problem Based Learning. We have used the Frayer Model to explain the process. Click here to access the file.
What do teachers say about PBL?
Click here to read a few views from classroom teachers about their experience.
Ministry of Education Inquiry Monograph This monograph provides useful ideas towards inquiry which is a key element of PBL. Click here to access the document. Inquiry-Based Learning The Capacity Building Series is produced by the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat to support leadership and instructional effectiveness in Ontario schools. Teachers play the role of “provocateur,” finding creative ways to introduce students to ideas and to subject matter that is of interest to them and offers “inquiry potential” or promise in terms of opportunities for students to engage in sustained inquiry of their own Click here to access the document.
Growth Opportunities Use the attached resource to see how you can use Twitter to learn what teachers are doing with inquiry and PBL. Visit #ontsshg To explore possibilities, use a site like tagboard.com to search Twitter hashtags related to subjects of interest. Today we started #tdsbpbl and you may also access #ontsshg to participate in discussions related to SSHG. We used Tweetdeck on laptops and Hootsuite on ipads. http://www.pblearning.com/index.html This site is designed for teachers who want to include problem-based learning in their classrooms. You will find a number of resources including sample lessons, videos, templates for planning and instruction, research and articles, and links to additional information. Problem Based Learning in Social Studies and English http://www.slideshare.net/glennw98/pbl-for-social-studies-language-arts This slideshare provides examples and shows the PBL process. I have attached a file that shares some of the benefits of Problem Based Learning. We have used the Frayer Model to explain the process. Click here to access the file.
