Inquiry Learning: Learning how to inquire according to Einstein

Inquiry Learning in my classroom and school environment is welcomed by my gifted learners.  Here is what they said, "Class is no longer BORING! "

The gifted standards: HOTS (higher order thinking skills), CPS (creative problem-solving), ARS (advanced research skills), and ACS (advanced communication skills) are incorporated into our lessons.  We get it!  We can explore, discover and use our multiple intelligences or strengths to complete performance tasks or to express our understanding or to guide our hypothesis' for an experiment. 

Oh, yes indeed! Science experiments are exciting and interesting.  The Steps of the Scientific Method make sense to us.  We know how to ask probing questions, digitally document our perspectives and reflect on our learning.  All of this is done using iPads, Flip cameras, green screens, and laptops-independently! 

PART TWO: PRINCIPLE #5 TECHNOLOGY EXTENDED

According the Principle #5 Technology-Appropriate Use of Technology Rubric, I see my classroom falling into the Developing quadrant, slowly crossing over to the Accomplished.  Based on my school’s demographics and socio-economic status, students are limited with “take-home” technology.  Many of our students cannot afford to have the internet in their homes.  A very small percentage of those lacking, will make an effort to visit the public library to complete technology-ladened homework.  Inquiry-based learning in the classroom, using technological tools, can be limited when the student population dictates otherwise. 

There is a bright side to the technological journey.  Our school district has partnered with Microsoft Bing and myBackpack Cloud platform.  This provides some flexibility with the use of technology outside of the school and beyond one classroom. 

Although we are limited, I have an advantage as a gifted resource teacher.  My schedule permits me to serve a specific grade level once per week for 300 minutes, focusing on a specific topic.  Therefore, I have the opportunity to offer a plethora of technological tools (personal and school property) to the gifted learners.  

Thinking aloud, I ask myself: “How can I engage my students, enhance my lessons and extend the technological use to where it is meaningful?” 

Science Exploration Class: Students can use the Web 2.0 tool Glogster or Infographics to reinforce  and display their understanding of The Steps of the Scientific Method.

• Students can use digital cameras to record their group experiments and team think-alouds.  This allows the students to review their comments and to capture images of the experiment.
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• Students use iPhoto and iMovie to upload, create and demonstrate their entire inquiry-based learning experience with the Steps of the Scientific Method.
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• Students use Excel for data analysis and to display results
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• Students use www.cueprompter.com along with the class iPads to type their Science experiment video diary script.  Their team will collaborate and record themselves in front of a green screen, using the digital camera.
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• Students will use Google, Bing and other Search engines to research royalty-free images that can be inserted as a background to their video diary (green screen).
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• Students and entire class are authors of a PBWorks wiki space; we upload our findings, videos and reflections;