Authentic Lessons for 21st Century Learning

Inquiry Toolbox

Shayna Pond | Published: January 15th, 2025 by K20 Center

Summary

This collection offers professional learning and strategies designed to support the Inquiry Cycle, a research-driven framework that empowers instructional leadership teams to pursue continuous improvement through data-driven practices. Schools and classrooms that embrace this process consistently demonstrate growth in both student achievement and engagement. A full cycle of inquiry encompasses key phases: articulating goals, asking critical questions, analyzing data, interpreting findings, making informed decisions, taking action, reflecting, and making necessary adjustments.

Resources

This professional learning activity asks participants to reflect on the importance of the inquiry cycle. Participants will examine a school data case study, take on different lenses for interpreting data, and explore what research tells us about the inquiry cycle and how it can support schools in making... Read more »

Tag Target Audience

  • Administrators, All Staff or Teachers

Tag Calendar Placement

  • Any time of year

User Group Group Size

  • Large Group (at least 30), Medium Group (at least 10), Small Group

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • Interpret
More
Time Frame 60 minutes

This professional learning session focuses on data-driven decision-making in the context of instruction. Participants will establish a definition the data-driven decision-making, identify the steps in the data-driven decision-making process, and explore the conditions and methods for successfully using... Read more »

Tag Target Audience

  • New Teachers, PLC, Teachers

Tag Calendar Placement

  • Any time of year, Planning/Collaboration/Conference Time

User Group Group Size

  • Large Group (at least 30), Medium Group (at least 10), Small Group, Small Group (at least 4)

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • Analyze, Collaborate, Increase Teacher "Toolbox", Problem Solving, Recognize
More
Time Frame 40 minutes
Fishbone

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 6th - 12th

This strategy guides students to consider all possible factors that contribute to an outcome. Students create Fishbone diagrams to analyze and evaluate scientific or historical events to better understand their root causes. Read more »

Strategy Instructional Strategy

User Group Group Size

  • Individual, Small Group, Whole Class

Copied To Clipboard Placement In Lesson

  • Extend/Additional Learning Activity

Time Frame Time To Complete

  • 10 - 20 Minutes

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • Analyze, Brainstorming, Collaborate, Critical Thinking, Interpret

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 6th - 12th

The inquiry cycle starts with asking questions that help define the problem and articulate goals. Explore these strategies to engage effectively with this phase of the process. While many strategies in our collection are designed for classroom application with students, they can be easily adapted for use in professional learning environments.

RAVEN

Grade Level Grade Level

  • Secondary

This strategy provides a scaffold for students to reflect on and rate the credibility of sources they find while doing research. They analyze sources using these five factors: Relevance, Authority, Verifiability, Evidence, and Neutrality. Read more »

Strategy Instructional Strategy

User Group Group Size

  • Individual, Small Group

Time Frame Time To Complete

  • 20 - 30 Minutes, More Than 30 Minutes

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • Research

Grade Level Grade Level

  • Secondary

Understanding how to read research and interpret data are both crucial to discovering insights for interventions that fit your questions and making informed decisions during the inquiry cycle. This collection includes tools that help analyze research and draw meaningful insights from data.

SMART Goals

Grade Level Grade Level

  • Undergraduate - Secondary

By following the SMART goals criteria, students, teachers, and schools can set actionable, clear, and realistic goals that increase the likeliness of achieving desired outcomes. Read more »

Strategy Instructional Strategy

User Group Group Size

  • Individual, Large Group (at least 30), Medium Group (at least 10), Small Group (at least 4), Whole Class

Time Frame Time To Complete

  • 10 - 20 Minutes, 20 - 30 Minutes, More Than 30 Minutes

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • Action Plans

Grade Level Grade Level

  • Undergraduate - Secondary

These strategies aid in setting clear, actionable goals that drive continuous improvement. 

SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats)

Grade Level Grade Level

  • Preschool - Secondary

SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis is a versatile assessment tool that permits strategic planning and evaluation of a project or organization. The SWOT framework can identify core strengths and weaknesses as well as the external opportunities and threats that affect performance. Read more »

User Group Group Size

  • Individual, Large Group (at least 30), Medium Group (at least 10), Small Group, Small Group (at least 4), Whole Class

Copied To Clipboard Placement In Lesson

  • Evaluate/Assessment

Time Frame Time To Complete

  • More Than 30 Minutes

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • Action Plans, Evaluate, Reflection, Review, Self-assessment

Grade Level Grade Level

  • Preschool - Secondary

Reflection and adjustment are key to completing the inquiry cycle. These strategies can help you evaluate outcomes and make informed changes for future success.

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