Relationship: Working together to solve a problem and reflecting on results
Relationship: Identifying the problem type then structuring an appropriate design

Core Concepts of Collaborative Inquiry

Collaboration

working together to achieve a common goal

sharing thoughts and ideas

being open-minded to new ideas and opinions

requires patience, integrity, and perseverance

Inquiry

looking into and investigating a problem or challenge

asking questions

researching

aim is to augment knowledge or solve a problem

Problem Solving

finding solutions to difficult or complex issues

higher-order cognitive process

requires effort and skill

2 types of problems:

Well-structured:

easier to solve

solution is predictable and usually only 1 answer

Ill-structured:

unpredictable solutions

many possible answers

takes more time and skill to solve

Design

a strategic plan to solve a problem

Instructional design:

identifying learning needs

deciding how to meet those needs

creating the process or method for delivery

Physical design:

how to use time and space

develop questions, collect data

make sense of and organize data

Collaboration, inquiry, problem solving and design all connect and work together systematically: we work together as a team to inquire about a specific problem, ask questions, come up with a realistic design to solve the problem, and figure out a solution together. The team will then collaborate again and reflect on the results, and if needed, start the process again if the desired solution is still not attained. These core concepts work as a cycle of collaborative inquiry.

Burning Question: What can we do to incorporate a better collaborative learning environment in our classrooms?