Inquiry-based and Project-based Learning

Hello all!

I thought I'd just give you a little information on what Inquiry-based Learning and Project-based Learning is about. Most of our classrooms today could really benefit from this hands on approach.
Inquiry-based Learning is hands on learning. Instead of the child listening to a teacher lecture, the child is working one on one with materials learning how to create or do. It has its historical roots and underpinnings within the teachings of Socrates and John Dewey.
The constructs of inquiry based learning are critical thinking, skill building, and problems solving. By using the relevant information and giving students activities to put the information into practice they allow for faster acquisition and quicker connections on how this information can be integrated with other information.
Therefore, within the classroom students are able to use information in applicable areas quicker and make changes to allow for the continued acquisition of higher information.
One of these hands on activities I can envision is the surveying of a section of the school grounds in an actual archaeology dig by allowing students to use the hands on methods they have learned in math of setting up a grid, calculating depth where they find items and then using science to figure out how it got there, for example erosion, or flood. They can research the time period for the items and there different uses or purposes. They would need to research what was in the area before the school was there. After their findings were completed they would then write them up for presentation to the class. However, this report could also be presented in the form of powerpoint, video presentation or even a website. This allows for all subject areas to be covered and a faster acquisition of the knowledge. It also shows students how all the subjects they study in school correlate together and their importance.
If your curious about inquiry-based learning just check out the highlighted links within this website. The use of Multiple Intelligences is deeply involved within inquiry-baed learning.
Project-based learning or PBL is the use of the use of classroom projects, intended to bring about deep learning, where students use technology and inquiry to engage with issues and questions that are relevant to their lives. These classroom projects are used to assess student's subject matter competence compared to traditional testing. The historical roots of Project-based learning are with educators like John Dewey and the reported benefits of hands on, student directed learning. These are strategies and ideas that have been tested for over a 100 years.
The constructs are recognixing students drive to learn, engage students in central concepts and discipline to learn, highlight provocative issues that lead students to in depth exploration, requires the use of tools and skills, specific products that solve problems or dilemnas, includes multiple products that result in frequent feedback and cconsistant opportunities for student inquiry, use performance based assessments that communicate high expectations, and encourages collaboration through either small groups, student-led presentations or whole class interactions.
The project must take into account what is plannable for your classroom. It has to take in the length of the process, bell schedules, outside work, and standardized testing. The teacher must recognize that the PBL will take time away from the normal content of the regular curriculum. Students learn the same information, however, it is over a lnger term and applied to real life scenarios. This also allows for teacher to give students less busy work. While teachers gain more work due to the depth and length of the project.
One of the ideas I have for a project-based learning activity is for students to do an Oral History of the Portland, Texas area. I also would like for them to help reconstruct the history of San Patricio. This would involve a great deal of research with the end result to be able to present this to the Texas Historical board.
If your interested on more information on project-based learning, then click on any of the highlighted links within this webpage. This website gives excellent guidance at the middle school level.

So for an Essential Question like:
What are the three branches of government and How do they operate?
We can ask Unit Questions like:
What are the responsibilities and powers of the Executive Branch?
What are the responsibilities and powers of the Legislative Branch?
What are the responsibilities and powers of the Judicial Branch?

As a teacher we then can move into hands on reasearch and production of a product to show these answers.