Inquiry is a learning process that focuses on construction and following of questions for enduring understandings. It has applications across content areas and as a learning model, inquiry can provide numerous benefits for students. Inquiry can help increase student motivation and encourage ownership of learning, create opportunities to practice collaboration, and help develop higher-order thinking skills. In other words, inquiry helps students learn how to learn, no matter what topic they're exploring. In this course, you'll learn the nuts and bolts of inquiry, the different forms it can take, and how to successfully integrate it into your library. Watch the video lessons and complete the reflection activities to deepen your inquiry into inquiry today!
- Learn and understand various inquiry learning models and effective strategies for guiding students through the inquiry process
- Learn how inquiry-based learning can benefit students
- Learn the characteristics of and applications for directed, guided, and free inquiry
- Learn how to ignite student curiosity during the exploration phase of inquiry
- Learn strategies to help students ask dynamic and effective questions
- Learn methods to guide students through imagining, locating, and evaluating sources
- Learn how to teach students to synthesize, frame, and present what they've learned for authentic audiences
- Learn ways to facilitate meaningful student reflection during and at the completion of an inquiry process
Each course lesson includes video content and at least one follow-up activity to help you apply and show evidence of your learning.
Introduction Video
Lesson 1: Why Inquiry? Activity: What's Your Why?
Lesson 2: Models for Inquiry Activity: Inquiry Frameworks
Lesson 3: Explore and Wonder Activity: Wondering about Primary Sources
Lesson 4: Formulating the Research Question Activity 1: Essential Questions
Activity 2: Question Stems
Lesson 5: Gathering Sources Activity 1: Imagining Sources
Activity 2: Evaluating Sources
Lesson 6: Demonstrating and Sharing the Learning Activity 1: Authentic Audiences
Activity 2: Student Creators
Lesson 7: Reflecting on the Process Activity: Ways to Reflect
Closing Video
Course Certification Quiz
Earn three professional development clock hours for completing this course's videos, activities, and quiz. Consult with your supervising organization about applying these to your professional development requirements.
To show evidence of learning for this course, complete and share the following:
- Inquiry Elevator Pitch
- Inquiry Frameworks Reflection
- Using Primary Sources to Spark Curiosity Reflection
- Essential Question Examples
- Question Stem Brainstorming
- Imagining Sources Practice
- Evaluating Sources Outline
- Authentic Audiences Brainstorming
- New Learning Product Reflection
- Ways to Reflect Reflection
- Workshop Quiz Results / Certificate of Completion
School Library Connection is a publication of Libraries Unlimited, a publisher in the field of academic, public, school, and special libraries since 1964. Libraries Unlimited's mission—to cultivate and maintain a supportive community where librarians, archivists, and information specialists can learn about and discuss leading-edge trends and acquire new skills through every phase of their careers—is supported by over 2,000 publications. Since 2008, Libraries Unlimited has been an imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC, an award-winning publisher of digital and print products in the realms of reference, contemporary thought, and professional development. With both a long-standing reputation for authoritative and trustworthy materials and a current prominence in delivering cutting-edge content in diverse and innovative forms, ABC-CLIO continues to be driven by pursuit of its core mission: to serve as source, catalyst, and support of lifelong learning.
To make inquiries about this workshop, please email WebinarSLC@abc-clio.com.
Additional Resources
MLA Citation
Morris, Rebecca J. "Inquiry-Based Learning. Introduction [1:15]." School Library Connection, ABC-CLIO, July 2019, schoollibraryconnection.com/Content/Course/2214086?learningModuleId=2214085&topicCenterId=2247902.
Entry ID: 2214086