Inquiry-Based Learningand Library Instruction

Benjamin Oberdick

Sara Miller

April 2, 2009

What Is IBL?

Traditional Learning:

“…focused on mastery of content, with less emphasis on the development of skills and the nurturing of inquiring attitudes.”

http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/inquiry/index_sub1.html

Inquiry-Based Learning:

“…is more focused on using and learning content as a means to develop information-processing and problem-solving skills.”

http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/inquiry/index_sub1.html

Basically:

• A good question is crucial

• Emphasize recursive nature of research – the “conversation”

• Involvement and engagement are key

“I’ve already finished my

paper, I just need to find

three sources to back up what I

wrote.”

How does engagement happen?

• Relevant or interesting topic

• Point of need• Intentionally elicit a

response from students

(assignment design)

IBL Course Assignments

• In stages • Engagement

demonstrated along the way

• Focus not only on final product

“The Academic Conversation”

• Responding to ideas of others

• Finding new questions

• Engaging others when researching

The “I-Search” Paper

• Initial questions that you have before researching

• Planning strategically to find answers

• “Mini-papers” on each source consulted

Critical Bibliography

• Self-reflective annotations (in addition to traditional summary info)

What can you do?

Brainstorming

• Begin with an article, topic, or person

• What questions do you have?

• Where would you look for answers?

Cooperative/Collaborative Learning

• Have groups work together and report on findings

• If it can be done individually, it can probably be done in groups

Problem-Based Learning

• “A colleague has sent you the following citations…”

• Using the research assignment as the “problem”

Discovery Learning

• What research is• Following a

bibliography trail• Is the resource

primary or secondary?

Handouts and Worksheets: Focus on Process

• “Along with your citations, write a short paragraph explaining how and when you would use each type of article in an assignment.”

Assignment Calculator

• Stuck? Check it out.• Start with the Web,

but don’t stop there.

References• Concept To Classroom Workshop: Inquiry Based Learning. (2004). Retrieved

from: http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/inquiry/index.html • Ballenger, B. (2009). The Curious Researcher: A Guide To Writing Research

Papers. New York: Longman.• Inquiry Page: Learning begins with questions. (2009). Retrieved from:

http://inquiry.uiuc.edu/inquiry/definition.php3 • Information Age Inquiry: Inquiry Based Learning. (2006). Retrieved from

http://virtualinquiry.com/inquiry/inquiry7.htm• Roy D, Kustra, E, Borin, P. What is Unique About Inquiry Courses?

(2003). Retrieved from http://www.mcmaster.ca/cll/inquiry/whats.unique.about.inquiry.htm

• Good Practice: Inquiry-Based Learning. Retrieved from: http://www.queensu.ca/ctl/goodpractice/inquiry/index.html

• Inquiry-based learning (IBL). (2009). Retrieved from: http://www.shef.ac.uk/cilass/ibl.html