Inquiry Workshops: Integrating Research

and Writing across the K-20 Curriculum

Tracy Shaw, Squalicum High School

Darilyn Sigel, Whatcom Middle School

Sylvia Tag, Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA

How do you define inquiry?

Our Context Western Washington University:

state public university 15,000 enrollment 10-week quarter Writing Proficiency graduation requirement

Squalicum High School: public high school (one of 3.5 in the district) 1,400 enrollment (largest in district)

Whatcom Middle School• Public Middle School (one of 4 in the district)

• 621 Students

Learning Commons Partners

Research Consultation Writing Center Writing Instruction Support Center for Service Learning Tutoring Center Student Technology Center Center for Instructional Innovation &

Assessment Leadership Institute Teaching-Learning Academy

Academic Literacies

Reading Writing Speaking Visual Information Technology Ethics Others…

Shared Learning Objectives

Inquiry

Collaboration

Agency

Back Story

Fall 2012 Faculty Survey on Learning Commons – What can we do for you?

1. Workshops for my students on how to do researching & writing

AND

2. Workshops for me on how to teach researching & writing

Model Development

Fall 2012 & Winter 2013 - Consulting with Colleagues

Winter & Spring 2013 - Workshop pilot

Fall 2013 Integrated model

Winter 2014-Present Refining Integrated Model

Workshop Sequence

Getting Started

Finding & Using Sources

Revising & Editing

Questions?

Any clarifying questions so far?

Collaboration

Liaison Program at WWU

Facilitators Planning Group

Transitions & Challenges

Traditional Bibliographic Instruction Model

Writing & Research Model

Collaborative Redesign (3-4-3)

Communication

Call to Participate

Confirmation

Reminder(s) and request for syllabus & assignment

Canvas site

Assessment

Fast-Feedback Forms

Quarterly Faculty Surveys

Facilitators’ Observations

Workshop Sequence Handout

Getting Started

Finding & Using Sources

Revising & Editing

Back Back Story

“What are high school students

lacking when they come to

Western Washington University?”

The conversation begins…

Workshops Begin at Squalicum High School

Strategically collaborating with an English

teacher

Planning with AVID teachers

(Advancement Via Individual Determination)

1 essential question, 4 teachers, 4

disciplines, 4 grade levels, 4 different

projects

Getting Started Getting to know the

assignment – thoroughly analyzing what’s required

Highlighting the Action Words

Circling important dates

Brainstorming Key Facts& Important Details

Written on the board

Putting the assignment intotheir own words

Brainstorming ideas – 3 issues their generation faces

Generating whole group ideas

Students could choose topics that interested them

Demonstrating “Questioning the Question” Strategy –

student driven Inquiry Question

Student driven sub-questions

Brainstorming keywords to begin research

Beginning the research

Next Steps

Middle Schools begin Workshops

ELA/SS Core ModelWorkshop ApproachEstablished (flexible) Foundation

The conversation continues…

K-20 Partnership for Academic Literacies

Transferable

Building a shared Lexicon

Using your definition of inquiry, how would you

extend this conversation with your colleagues?