Focus on Faculty: Promoting Interactive, Inquiry-based Environments in Online Education Presenters: Vince Schreck, Instructional Designer, CAE Professor Dan Johnson, Geography

Introductions Vince Schreck, Ed.D. -Background in teaching and learning -Instructional design work -Why do you want to work with an Instructional Designer? Dan Johnson, Ph.D. -Professor of Geography -CLAS Director of Online Programs

What is Inquiry-based Learning? “A student-centered, active learning approach focusing on questioning, critical thinking, and problem- solving. It's associated with the idea - involve me and I understand.”

An Inquiry-based Process Learner asks question or questions Questions lead to the desire for answers to the question (or for solutions to a problem) and result in the beginning of exploration and hypotheses creation Hypotheses lead to an investigation to test the hypothesis/es or find answers and solutions to the question and/or problem The investigation leads to the creation or construction of new knowledge based on investigation of findings The learner discusses and reflects on this newly-acquired knowledge, which, in turn leads to more questions and further investigation

Inquiry-based Learning - Research “Several Studies have found that inquiry-based teaching & learning methods positively affect student performance (e.g., Thacker et al. 1994; Magnussen Ishido, and Itano 2000), and education reforms recommend incorporating inquiry into the classroom (NRC 2000)” Ciancioio Thacker et al (1994) study “Comparing problem solving performance of physics Students in Inquiry-based and traditional introductory physics courses.” - Compared problem solving (both quantitative and qualitative) between traditional, physics students, and non-major physics students in a course emphasizing inquiry- based problem solving. -The elementary majors “…performed significantly better than engineering students and as well as the honors physics students on the two problems (quant./qual) used” Thacker et al (1994).

Inquiry-based Learning - Research Magnussen Ishido, and Itano (2000). The impact of the use of inquiry-based learning as a teaching methodology on the development of critical thinking. Recognition of Assumptions, deduction, interpretations, evaluation of arguments. - University of Hawaii school of nursing. 50% of courses, at the time of the study, had integrated IBL tutorial sessions. - Over a 4 year period, not all students showed improvements in critical thinking skills, and some scores declined from pre to post test. - The study did show that students who performed poorly on the pre test, showed improvement after the post test. This occurred in a similar study “Flannelly and Inouye (1998).” - “In summary, the results suggest that this methodology appeared to be more effective in developing critical thinking skills for students whose scores were low.”

Inquiry-based Learning - Research Cianciolo, J. Flory, L. Atwell, J. (2006). Evaluating the use of inquiry-based activities: Do student and teacher behaviors really change? - Compared and inquiry-based Biology course with a more traditional, lecture-based classroom. Purpose was to determine the extent to which inquiry-based activities promoted inquiry-associated behaviors in both teachers and students. - Study found inquiry behaviors occurred more frequently during inquiry-based activities than during recitation sessions where traditional teaching methods were implemented. Study also found that that teachers can also foster inquiry even in traditional settings.

Inquiry-based Learning - Resources Magnussen L., D. Ishida, and J. Itano The impact of the use of inquiry-based learning as a teaching methodology on the development of critical thinking. Journal of Nursing Education 39 (8): National Research Council (NRC) Inquiry and the national science education standards. Washington, DC: National Academy Press. Thacker B., E. Kim, K. Trefz and S.M. Lea Comparing problem solving Performance of physics students in inquiry-based and traditional introductory Physics courses. American Journal of Physics 62 (7): Flannelly, L. & Inouye, J. (1998). Inquiry-based learning and critical thinking in an Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing Program. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 12(3), 1-8. Cianciolo, J. Flory, L. Atwell, J. (2006). Evaluating the use of inquiry-based Activities: Do student and teacher behaviors really change? Journal of College Science Teaching, November/December 2006,