At last I’ve found a class to observe! It is a year 9 SOSE class
and their task is to examine and report on the concept of the ecological
footprint. This is part of the subject SOSE or “The Study of Society and
Environment”. The class starts in term 4 and continues throughout the term. I’m
very excited as the teacher running the unit is considered an expert in inquiry
learning! The culminating event for this learning experience is an exhibition
showcasing their discoveries. Family and friends are invited to this evening
event. Each student has a stall
displaying their project and they get to explain their “research results” to
anyone who’s interested.
The teacher-librarian (TL) in this school is dedicated, knowledgeable
and involved with all aspects of curriculum within the school. Both the TL and
the teacher running the inquiry unit are part of the leadership team of the
school. The teacher and the TL have offices within the spacious and picturesque
library and they share a staff room/kitchen apart from the “official” staff
room. They therefore have ample opportunity to discuss matters of mutual
interest.
The ILA has been designed to help the students attain a
number of learning outcomes. The students are guided through a number of steps
on their way towards these outcomes. The first step is for them to gain an
understanding of the concept of an ecological footprint. The second helps them identify an area of
interest that will be the focus for the inquiry. The third helps them identify suitable
research strategies to gather relevant information about each section of the
inquiry. They are expected to gather both primary and secondary data. The
primary data gathered would be; taking and using photographs, collecting and
analysing statistics, conducting interviews, constructing and conducting a
questionnaire or survey or an audit and, direct observation. The fourth step is
to identify a strategy that students and their families could implement to
reduce their “footprint factor”. The last step in the inquiry learning unit is
to analyse the results of their inquiry and decide on the most effective ways
to present the data. Part of their presentation is in the form of an annotated
visual display. The rest consist of artefacts with which to make their stall
appealing to visitors during the exhibition, in the hopes of starting an interesting
conversation about their topic.
