Creating Content through Community Inquiry Ann Bishop and Chip Bruce Library & Information Science U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

What is Inquiry? Creating opportunities to engage people in active learning based on their own questions. A learner centered and learner driven process. A cycle where each question leads to an exploration which will then lead to more questions to investigate. The process of asking, investigating, creating, discussing, and reflecting, and then asking again.

Inquiry Activities at UIUC Understanding the inquiry process and developing environments that support it 1)Inquiry Page (communityware) 2)Set of overlapping communities 3)Learning opportunities 4)Research on community inquiry

Partner projects Resources on inquiry Tools for student and community inquiry –Calendar –Listservs –Inquiry Units –Community Inquiry Labs Inquiry Page

Community Inquiry Labs A place where members of a community come together to develop shared capacity and work on common problems. "Community" = support for collaborative activity and for creating knowledge that is connected to people's values, history, and lived experiences. "Inquiry" = support for open-ended, democratic, participatory engagement. "Laboratory" = a space and resources to bring theory and action together in an experimental and critical manner. A CIL is most importantly a concept…

SisterNet New model for Black women's organizing Wholeness through physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual health Political strategy to resist oppression and shape livable communities Community health fairs, conferences, and learning/action circles

SisterNet’s CIL in Action Taking Action for Water Quality

Paseo Boricua Community Library Project Puerto Rican Cultural Center in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood Galvanizes neighborhood residents around community projects Addresses critical issues: gang violence, AIDS, social and environmental justice, literacy, and economic development

Corrales Community Library What can local residents in this New Mexico town do to ensure a sufficient supply of clean water? A CIL where people can review and comment on local government reports, pursue research, and learn about local conditions related to water Developed as part of NSF Water CAMPWSNSF Water CAMPWS

Learning Users of the Inquiry Page Developers –practicums, internships, independent study –weekly meetings –workshops –sequence of courses => graduate specialization

Research on Inquiry How can we: a)connect learning & life? b)support participatory design? c)accommodate diversity & shared values?

Connect Learning and Life ESLARP Sample Inquiry Unit ESLARP Sample Inquiry Unit

Support Participatory Design

Accommodate Difference & Shared Values Paseo Boricua Community Library Project

Create Your Own Community Inquiry Lab!

Conclusion Design: appropriate technology Generativity: participatory design Sustainability: incorporation into community strengths and needs

Contact Information Ann Bishop: Chip Bruce: Meetings: Tuesday, 4-5, 131 LIS Workshop: August 26