Professional Inquiry: research engaged schools
Why is professional inquiry so important?
Inquiry is central to professional learning communities. It is also at the heart of the IB approach to pedagogy and is becoming a key aspect in the IB evaluation self-study from 2020 onwards. To professionally inquire is to be curious, to ask questions, to examine, to consult and investigate ideas. It is also to carry out research where your classrooms are your laboratories of learning.
How do we lead a community of lifelong independent learners committed to inquiry?
This page provides an introdution to what a research-engaged school looks like - a school that puts professional inquiry centre-stage.
Having an Inquiry Mindset
"The knowledge we need to solve problems (in schools) often doesn't reside close at hand; it has to be found through active inquiry and analysis." (Elmore.R.,Building a new structure for school leadership, Washington 2000)
In The Adaptive School: A sourcebook for developing collaborative groups, Garmston.R.J., & Wellman B.M suggest three helpful questions as the source of all professional inquiry:
- Who are we? Two related questions are 'About what do we care?' and 'How much do we dare?'
- Why are we doing this? which draws attention and choice to the habits and practices we have become accustomed to. Are these practices continuing to have the desired outcomes? Are they effective? Is there better practice elsewhere? How do we know?
- Why are we doing this this way? This third question focuses on the 'how' we do things. Who is benefiting from the way we are doing things?
Activity: Our professional inquiry
- As a school leadership team try answering these three questions:
Who are we?
Why are we doing this?
Why are we doing this this way?
- What are the key professional inquiry questions you are currently asking? To what extent are these central to your school action plan?
Activity: Inquiry Questions Bank
- Generate good thought-provoking and discussion generating inquiry questions on the following IB topics. This is a good way for staff to frame the things they wish to know and explore.
International Mindedness
Learner Profile
CAS
Service Learning
Inquiry-based learning
Concept-based teaching and instruction
Global engagement
Collaborative Learning
Differentiation
Formative assessment
Communication
Mother tongue
Academic honesty
Culture and identity
Risk taker - Use the Genius Hour protocol to allow colleagues to research and report back on their inquiry question.
The Education Endowment Foundation’s Guidance reports offer practical, evidence-based advice to schools on a wide range of topics. They include clear recommendations, and are accompanied by tools, resources, and training to support their implementation. Reports on:
- Leadership
- Literacy
- Assessment and feedback
- Learning behaviours
- Life skills
They can be found HERE.