Authentic Inquiry

ET
CA

Donham, J. (2008).  Deep learning through concept-based inquiry.  School Library Monthly, 27(1), retrieved from http://www.schoollibrarymonthly.com/articles/Donham2010-v27n1p8.html

This article urges school librarians to think differently about their instructional methods.  The author argues that the current model, in which students locate information and report it back to their school librarian or teacher, serves students poorly.  Rather than encouraging further inquiry, promoting a sense of curiosity and motivating students to think critically, it merely prompts students to parrot the information they have retrieved.  The author urges school librarians to step away from a model that simply teaches "reporting" skills and to embrace a model that teaches genuine research skills. Specifically, she emphasizes authentic inquiry, in which students must explore unknown territory and take ownership of the research process. She notes that authentic inquiry has three attributes.  First, it promotes observation-grounded research.  Students' current approach to research is to choose a topic, obtain facts about it, and assemble the final product. Authentic inquiry encourages students to start research projects by focusing on their own observations, reflecting upon them and following their own instinctual curiosities.  Next, it embraces a concept-based approach that redirects students' attention from specific topics and hard facts, such as the Pilgrims of the 1600s, to broader and more abstract concepts, such as immigration.  The author emphasizes that conceptual thinking allows for broader application across subjects and settings.  Third, the author states that authentic inquiry has value beyond the school setting.  Due to its emphasis on conceptual thinking, its promotion of curiosity and the freedom it allows students to study areas that are relevant to them as individuals, it strengthens their critical thinking and analytical skills.

I thought this article was excellent and highly useful!  I recommend that my classmates my read it; its message is deeply relevant to our work and is strongly connected to our class (it even refers to Dr. Loertscher's work!).  The author clearly explains authentic inquiry, providing useful examples and details, and her message is inspiring.