Burning Question: What can we do to incorporate a better collaborative learning environment in our classrooms?
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.
Core Concepts of Collaborative Inquiry
Design
Physical design:
make sense of and organize data
develop questions, collect data
how to use time and space
Instructional design:
creating the process or method for delivery
deciding how to meet those needs
identifying learning needs
a strategic plan to solve a problem
Problem Solving
2 types of problems:
Ill-structured:
takes more time and skill to solve
many possible answers
unpredictable solutions
Well-structured:
solution is predictable and usually only 1 answer
easier to solve
requires effort and skill
higher-order cognitive process
finding solutions to difficult or complex issues
Inquiry
aim is to augment knowledge or solve a problem
researching
asking questions
looking into and investigating a problem or challenge
Collaboration
requires patience, integrity, and perseverance
being open-minded to new ideas and opinions
sharing thoughts and ideas
working together to achieve a common goal
