Chapter Five Reflections

1. How can I get my students to ask questions about the research they are conducting?

You can ask your students to create or fill out a think-sheet that will help them to create questions of their own.  One of the think-sheets that I liked the best is the KWL chart.  In this chart, students will make three columns.  In the first column, the students will write down what they already know about the problem presented.  In the second column, they will list what they want to know; and in the last column, they will write about what they learned after doing the research.  Students can share these charts with each other to help generate more questions, or share with the entire classroom so that all of the students share their starting point.

2. How can I teach my students to solve problems?

One of the best ways to help students solve a problem, is to allow them to identify the problem themselves, and then plan how to solve it.  You will do no one any favors by handing out answers, if a student gets stuck, help them instead by asking questions that will lead them to find the answer on their own.  Allowing them to work together will also help them learn to solve problems on their own.

3. I've never used an inquiry-based approach, much less computers--so how is a teacher supposed to do both of these at one time?

Computers should actually assist the teacher in using an inquiry-based approach to teaching.  In an inquiry-based classroom, the teacher will act as the facilitator, allowing the students to ask their own questions, gather data, and analyze that data almost entirely on their own.  Computers will help the students will all of these steps, especially during the gathering data and analyzing data steps.