Blog Post #6

     Inquiry learning in my teaching environment has been lacking.  I did not realize this until this course.  Unfortunately we are not a 1:1 school district.  Our students do not have devices that they can take home with them.  We either have to reserve a computer lab or Chromebook cart.  These are not always easy to get.  Students are allowed to bring their own technology, but the problem with that is not everyone has their own devices.  This is where group work comes in.  I find that I have to pair or group students together when there is a shortage of devices.  Everyday I have a new essential question for my students to answer in their journals.  When school starts back in August I want to start something new and have the students help come up with these essential questions.  This way they are being the inquiry learners they need to be.

    I like what Diana Laufenberg said about being comfortable allowing kids to fail.  I have many gifted students who are scared to death of failure.  They have always had parents and teachers keeping them from failing.  My district uses an SLO test to determine growth throughout the semester.  This test is all multiple choice and is easily passible if you just memorize the answers.  Like Diana said in her video we as a society are infatuated with one right answer.  This test is an example of that.  My own formative and summative assessments include short answer questions, essay questions, and other hands on activities.  Using these types of assessments gives students the opportunity to demonstrate what they know rather than there just being one right answer.  Schools and teachers will always be needed to facilitate information and be there to assist.  Students have to go out get experience.  They will learn from their mistakes.  This will lead to more inquiry from students because they want to make those mistakes right.  I feel like making the mistakes gives people that "drive" to inquire more and work harder.

Getting over the fear of technology is difficult.  The Languages article describes this fear as "technophobia".  I have tried to incorporate some use of technology into my lessons over the years.  I chose this master's degree over a "content" masters because I wanted to learn something new.  I felt that this degree would benefit my students and myself more than another health education degree.  Sometimes I feel like an idiot when it comes to technology in front of my students and I do have to get them to help me.  They have grown up with technology and do not fear it like older educators do.  With the abundance of technology and information today we are able to deepen learning and promote inquiry like never before.  Gone are the days of driving to the library and spending hours researching one topic.  I want my students to use the technology I provide them to really dig deep into the questions they have.  I do think that a lesson, whether it is "mini" or a "big" one, begins with an engaging question.  One that gets the students wheels turning and they are eager to explore the answers.