Welcome to “Parents’ Information

Session- Inquiry in the PYP”

Fairview International School Johor

5th September 2015

Why are we here?

To learn more about…

• inquiry as an approach to learning

• the PYP Perspective

• what inquiry looks like

Who are we?

Your Name

Children

a hobby burning

questions

What was school like for you?

How is it different from what YOUR children are doing now?

Prior-knowledge assessment

Please complete that

„What do I already know

about the topic…” portion

of the Reference Frames.

Foundation of the PYP

Constructivism •students come to us with a wealth of prior

knowledge based on their background and their individual experiences

•teachers as facilitators

Foundation of the PYP

Constructivism •We ‘set the stage’ for learning by finding out

what the children already know and then allow them to build upon or construct their own understanding of the world around them

“The curriculum in a PYP school should

emphasize the active construction of

meaning so that students’ learning will

be purposeful.”

Making the PYP Happen (page 28)

How do we promote this in our classrooms?

What is Inquiry?

Inquiry is the process initiated by the students or the teacher that moves the students from their current level of understanding to a new

and deeper level of understanding.

Making the PYP Happen, 2009, IBO

Look out for evidences of inquiry in the classroom!

•work samples on the wall, boards, tables

•Individual portfolio

•Students’ presentations

Inquiry can take many forms... • exploring, wondering and

questioning • experimenting and playing with

possibilities • making connections between

previous learning and current learning

• making predictions and acting purposefully to see what happens

• collecting data and reporting findings • deepening understanding through

the application of a concept • researching and seeking information • taking and defending a position • solving problems in a variety of ways

Why use the inquiry method? • students learn how to learn • encouraged higher level

skills (observation, reasoning, analyzing, critical thinking)

• creative thinking and curiosity is stimulated

• student motivation and self-esteem increases with the control over their learning

• learning becomes fun

The Learning- Teaching Continuum

Units of Inquiry The units of inquiry are set under

ORGANIZING THEMES

•Who we are •Where we are in place and time •How we express ourselves •How the world works •How we organize ourselves •Sharing the planet

Units of Inquiry

Science and

Technology

Social Studies

(Geography,

History, Society)

Personal and Social

Education Mathematics

The Arts (Music,

Drama, Visual Arts)

Physical Education

These subject areas are always covered within

the units of inquiry.

These subject areas can be a part of the unit

of inquiry and can be taught as stand alone

subjects.

Inquiry in the PYP

Kath Murdoch's phases of inquiry planning

Tuning in • Happens before a topic is introduced.

• Objective: To promote / stimulate students‟ interest in a

topic.

• Crucial to start with what they already know. “Prior

knowledge”

Strategies:

• Teacher questions

• Artefacts

• Props

• Videos

• Storybooks

Finding out • A phase whereby students use various forms of resources

to gather information.

• To further stimulate students‟ curiosity.

• Objective: To encourage students to gather as much

information as possible; information that they think are

related.

Finding out… contd

• Strategies:

• • Teacher‟s questions

• • Student‟s questions

• • Guest speakers

• • Excursions

• • Books

• • Experiments

• • videos

Sorting out • Organize their findings into meaningful

outcome.

• Objective: To ensure students

understand the topic and are able to use

various methods to organize their data.

• skills in arts, mathematics, language

and technology

Sorting out… contd

Strategies:

• Creating- model, diorama

• Summarizing- poster, report,

scrap book, magazine

• Tabulating- tables, graphs,

charts

• Presenting- role play,

demonstrations

Sorting out… contd

Examinations/ assessments:

Is not limited to paper and pencil based.

Alternative ways to assess:

Science fair project

Demonstration

Dramas

Presentation

Going Further • Further exploration to deepen their

understanding of the topic being discussed or to

know more about a topic of their interest.

• Promoting independent inquiry

•Tools to promote: Survey

Interview

Students‟ questions

Presentation

Guest speakers

Excursions

Reflection Why do we need to reflect?

• Self assessment will lead to

motivation to go further

• Improve on weaknesses

• Highlight strengths

Tools:

reflection sheet

circle time

continuum

journal

Taking Action • Self initiated effort to model what is taught in class

to real-life situation.

• Making the link between understandings and

experience in the real world.

• Often very hard to gauge.

•Ways to promote:

Feedback from parents

Class sharing

Acknowledgment board

Celebration of Learning • a demonstration conference where students have the

opportunity to share their expertise in several subject areas

with their parents.

• Classrooms are set up with various stations that both

students and parents work through together.

•Throughout the conference, the teacher remains available

and takes on the role of facilitator.

Questions

Exit task

Complete the “Now I know…” portion of your Reference Frames.

Thank you