Group+Inquiry+Page

//Add your own opinions to the same group page (use Edit tab) and include your name next to what you added (items 4-6). (4) Which activities involve inquiry based learning and why? (5) Which activities did not involve inquiry based learning and why? (6) Identify which is the best inquiry based activity and explain why you chose it? (5%)//

=Sandra =

4-T**he activities that involve inquiry based learning where:**

 * //"Picturing Modern America 1880-1920" is clearly an inquiry based activity. Students are not presented with answers, instead, they must wonder and investigate to answer the questions. This was particularly evident in the Investigative exercise "New in 1900" where students examine several photos to figure out the technologies/inventions in common. Once the students figure out the commonality between the photo's they are given context information and challenged to discuss how their lives would have been different without the invention (in this case electricity).//


 * //"Keeping the Books" was a great hands on mathematics/accounting exercise. Students met their learning objectives by doing a series of activities. Answers were not fed to them, instead they were given the necessary information to guide them in figuring out the answers.//

5-The activities that did not involve inquiry based learning where:

 * //While I enjoyed the activity "Who wants to Win a Million Dollars". This activity is a great way to reinforce previously taught lessons and skills; I would not however, classify the activity as inquiry based learning. Per Cunningham & Billingsley, inquiry based learning is discovery driven "students are not given information as an end in itself, but are guided in a process of asking questions and conducting investigations to figure things out for themselves" (2006, p. 93).//

6-The best inquiry based activity was:

 * //"Keeping the Books" is a great inquiry based activity; but of the three activities our group reviewed, "Picturing Modern America 1880-1920 was the best inquiry based activity because of the final component, where students apply their investigations to their lives. Though the electronic quiz of Who wants to Win A Million Dollars is alot of fun, it does not promote higher order thinking.//

= Antiklia =
 * 4. The activity that involves inquiry based learning** is Sandra's activity on "//Picturing Modern America 1880-1920"// because this activity requires the students to gather clues and draw conclusions. Students can act like detectives, deriving questions, designing and carrying out investigations, and communicating their results. This level However, depending on the age group and grade, this activity may be a little too confusing for children to manuver around the page because it involves many links and processes.

I also thought that "//Who Wants to Win a Million Dollars"// is an activity that involves inquiry based learning because it is a thinking and problem solving activity. Students have to think about the question first then answer it. The students have to solve the problems given in this activity in their head or remember a concept from something that they learned in math and/or science class. I also believe that this activity involves inquiry based learning because it is seeking information, truth, or knowledge by questioning and this activity is questioning the students for the truth or the right answers on the problems. The questions asked in this activity may sure help students in the future.


 * 5**. Even though I enjoyed this activity and it is authentic, I believe that "//Keeping the Books"// **did not involve inquiry based learning because** it is almost like a matching game. The questions asked are not open-ended questions. The students did not really need to search for the answers besides needing a calculator to do so. It did require some math but the questions were multipe-choice. This activity is appropriate for a higher-grade level.


 * 6**. **The best inquiry based activity from this group is** "//Picturing Modern America 1880-1920".// I choose it because it requires the student to really think about what they are doing and they need to execute the activity from start to finish. The students are more involved in digging a little deeper for answers or clues and it gets them more involved in the activity and might make them feel like they are really detectives looking for clues and such. I enjoyed all 3 activities and I believe that students will have a great time grasping the concept of each while learning at the same time but Sandra's activity, "//Picturing Modern America 1880-1920",// is a little more complex in the learning process.

= Brian = =4 - The activities that involve inquiry based learning is:=

-"Picturing Modern America" - I thought that this excercise did a great job of making the students come up with their own thoughts and ideas. It allows you to explore different photos and draw your own conclusions from the picture that you are observing. I also enjoy how the activity helps students our by giving clues in case someone gets stuck on a problem. The activity gives them clues but again does not give them the answer. There are guides but the students are aways thinking. They continually work towards drawing their own conclusions. I thought this activity was a great choice.

-"Keeping the Books" - I thought that this excercise was an inquiry based learning activity. I liked this activity because the problems were challenging and reasonable at the same time. For every problem asked, there was enough information for the students to solve the problem. I also thought that the students could relate to the problems because the problems dealt with real life situations. The final part, "On Your Own," is my favorite part and the part I believe is the most inquiry based. The student here must take what they learned from the activity and evaluate how they spend their own money. This will allow students to maybe manage their money better and realize what they spend their money on.

5- The activities that did not involve inquiry based learning is:

-"Who Wants to Win a Million Dollars?" - If I were still in school I would have really enjoyed doing this activity. I just feel like this would be used in a Direct Instruction type of unit. The students answer these questions and they are either right or wrong. The students are not really taking information and forming their own thoughts. I believe an activity like this would be a great idea for reviewing for a test. This is more interesting and fun then doing a simple and common review. Again, I do not really see this as an inquiry based activity but a great tool that can be used in a classroom.

6 - The best inquiry based activity is:

-"Picturing Modern America" - Again, I believe that this activity is most certainly inquiry based and could be a great activity in the classroom. I like how students are always thinking on their own and forming their own ideas and thoughts about the pictures. I like how the students thoughts about the pictures could be anything. I thought it was a great idea as well o give hints to students in case they struggled with a certain picture. Like the inquiry based activity I chose, "Keeping the Books," I enjoy how this activity makes the students apply their thoughts and ideas to their lives. Like I mentioned in my Inquiry Activity review, I think that when activities allow students to apply materials they are learning to their own real lives that the students are more likely to be interested in the material being taught. While I believe that all three activities are useful tools and could be used in the classroom, I feel like the "Picturing Modern America" activity is the best inquiry based activity. = ﻿ =