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Inquiry Learning - The 2020 Program
The following article is drawn from materials created within the College by a number of educators.
What is a Learning Inquiry at GWSC?
A Learning Inquiry at GWSC is an in-depth and scaffolded investigation in which students seek deep understanding through posing authentic questions.
An inquiry question is one that is open and charged with emotional, social, political and ethical implications. It undermines the student's existing perceptions and opinions, is rich in content, thought-provoking and practical. It is connected to learners, their interests, wider society, and to central concepts in the disciplines such as Science, Mathematics, English, Humanities and Health. This fosters deeper disciplinary understanding.
Teachers set the fertile question as part of establishing a context and framework in which to organise the inquiry, and students are guided to ask and inquire into their own research questions and sub-questions.
Learning inquiries offer possibilities for team teaching and collaborative curriculum development. Feedbacks from teams suggest that this approach to teaching and learning yields benefits on many levels. Teachers have often reported gaining deeper insights into their students, as well as being able to see their discipline within a wider context of learning at the College.
There are a number of Learning Inquires than run in the college. Some, such as "Who Am I?" at year 7, are multidisciplinary. Others are interdisciplinary inquiries, such as The 2020 Program which encompasses all Key Learning Areas at Year 9.
The purpose of Learning Inquiries at GWSC includes:
- To teach for deeper disciplinary understanding
- To provide a sustained learning focus
- To immerse students in the timely use of a range of skills and literacies in ICT, Communication and Thinking
- To involve students in learning that connects strongly with communities and practice beyond the classroom
How are Learning Inquiries Assessed?
Learning Inquiries incorporate the following three dimensions of assessment:
- Assessment FOR Learning, such as an inquiry proposal
- Assessment AS Learning, such as research findings
- Assessment OF Learning, such as a final performance of understanding
Therefore, assessment is embedded within each stage of a learning inquiry and does not simply occur at the end of the unit.
The 2020 Program
The 2020 Program is run specifically for Year 9 students during semester two.
The aims of the 2020 program are to:
- promote deep, authentic and meaningful learning, and to
- encourage students to make informed choices around sustainable living.
The concept of sustainability is the central curriculum driver. Students explore topics such as production & consumption, energy, transport, people & population and biodiversity.
The fertile question providing a framework for the interdisciplinary inquiry is 'How can we ensure a sustainable future for our blue planet?'
After the fertile question has been posed, students embark on an intensive period of research and investigation. Each House group (the College has four Houses) is allocated a four week block in Semester Two. During this time students are encouraged to leave the boundaries of the traditional classroom and to collaborate with other students in their House group.
A dedicated learning space in the newly completed Middle School Centre provides an open, flexible and technology rich learning environment. Students also have the opportunity to leave the school site, make links with people in the wider community, and identify an authentic audience for their research findings.
The 2020 program challenges students to form solutions and act upon the findings of their inquiry. At the end of a four week inquiry cycle, groups share their new understandings in an engaging and authentic way at The 2020 Expo. The 2020 Expo is an event open to the community and is a new initiative of 2010.
The Role of ICT
Central to 2020 is the use of ICT to enhance learning, facilitate communication and record assessment. A variety of Web 2.0 technologies including a teacher moderated homepage, a network of student blogs and a dedicated Wiki are used to achieve this.
The Role of Teachers
- Within each house, core teachers in Science, English, Humanities, and Health and PE work collaboratively to facilitate the program.
- A team of teachers decide student groupings of four students per group based on principles of personalised learning.
- Teachers adopt a mentor role to support a small number of groups to facilitate and assess learning.
- Teachers deliver a series of workshops targeting essential skills such as critical literacy, scientific thinking and data analysis.
© GWSC
Published: 25 Mar 2009
Updated: 2 May 2013
Article contact: Mrs S Erickson
Views: 8405
Filed under: Learning Programs
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T2 Calendar
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Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4
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HIDE PAST DATES
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16 Apr 2013 - Tue
Middle School House Athletics
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17 Apr 2013 - Wed
Booking Sheets Open
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23 Apr 2013 - Tue
Open Day
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25 Apr 2013 - Thu
Anzac Day
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29 Apr 2013 - Mon
Senior Parent Teacher Interviews
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30 Apr 2013 - Tue
Yera 8 Narmbool Camp 1
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30 Apr 2013 - Tue
Nayook 7F3
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1 May 2013 - Wed
Narmbool Year 8 Camp 2
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2 May 2013 - Thu
Senior Round Robin Sport
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2 May 2013 - Thu
Year 8 Relationships Day
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3 May 2013 - Fri
Presentation Ball
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6 May 2013 - Mon
Division Cross Country
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7 May 2013 - Tue
Nayook Camp 7G1
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7 May 2013 - Tue
Immunisation Boys Yr 7 & 9
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8 May 2013 - Wed
Narmbool Camp 3 Yr 8
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8 May 2013 - Wed
School Council
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13 May 2013 - Mon
Narmbool Camp 4
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14 May 2013 - Tue
Naplan Testing
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17 May 2013 - Fri
Intermediate Round Robin Sport
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20 May 2013 - Mon
Express Yourself Day
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21 May 2013 - Tue
Nayook Camp 7G2
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22 May 2013 - Wed
Narmbool Year 8 Camp
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27 May 2013 - Mon
Year 11 Exams
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28 May 2013 - Tue
Nayook Camp 7G3
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3 Jun 2013 - Mon
Year 10 Exams
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7 Jun 2013 - Fri
Year 8 Round Robin Sport
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10 Jun 2013 - Mon
Queens Birthday Holiday
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12 Jun 2013 - Wed
GAT
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12 Jun 2013 - Wed
Yr 12 Formal
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14 Jun 2013 - Fri
Report Writing Day
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24 Jun 2013 - Mon
Year 10 Work Experience
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26 Jun 2013 - Wed
Music Camp
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28 Jun 2013 - Fri
Last Day of Term 2
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