Inquiry Circles supports 21st Century Learning

Inquiry: the art of asking deep questions and  conducting an investigation to find the answers.  

Stephanie Harvey and Harvey Daniels recently published a book titled Inquiry Circles in Action - Comprehension and Collaboration.  There are three main ways their work directly supports skills needed by today's 21st Century learners.  

1.  Students are given the opportunity for choice, they decide what they want to learn.  Teachers begin with big ideas and essential questions.  Students write inquiry questions and discover what they are passionate about.  With the use of text at their level and comprehension strategies as introduced by Harvey & Daniels they become experts on their given topic.  

2.  Learners collaborate with one another during their inquiry circles. This interaction is key to inquiry-based learning.  Through an engaging environment, students are able to build upon each others ideas.   

3.  Inquiry Circles create purpose for the learner.  Once the questions have been answered and the research is complete, it is time to "go public" with the learnings.  Through shared learning experiences students demonstrate their understanding and find a purpose in their work.

Using Inquiry Circles supports more than reading standards and comprehension.  With these strategies, learners are taught to collaborate and communicate with a team.  Students use critical thinking and problem solving skills as they create inquiry questions and work to find the answers they seek.  Both oral and written communication is practiced through an inquiry circle.  Student's are pushed to be creative and innovative when sharing their information by "going public".  These are all skills necessary for 21st Century learners.