1. Scientific Inquiry
Better Together Conference
September 20, 2014
Anita Cellucci, Marci D’Onofrio, Julie Leach
2. Focus of session:
Scientific Inquiry provides a vehicle for students to become experts!
A collaborative teaching approach of the Science teacher, Library
teacher and Tech Integration Specialist is an effort to provide depth
of learning - through research that differs from the typical
compilation based projects.
● Fundamentals of creating this type of collaboration
● Benefits to teachers
○ DDMs
○ Assessment measures
4. Five types of learning in Inquiry:
1. Information literacy: locate, evaluate, ethically use info
2. Curriculum content
3. Literacy competence: reading, writing, speaking,
listening, viewing for a purpose
4. Learning how to learn
5. Social skills
(Adapted from Guided Inquiry Design (2012) Kuhlthau, Maniotes, Caspari)
5. What makes the learning happen?
● Clear expectations
● Routine
● Reflection
● Modeling
● Conferring with students
Maniotes presentation (CiSSL institute 2014, Day 2 slide 51)
6. Strategies for Learning/Purposeful Guiding:
● Reflective Journal Prompts
● Making personal connections
● Building background knowledge
● Teacher - Student Conferencing
● Library Teacher - Student Interviews
● Inquiry Community - Modeling
● Inquiry Circles
● Pair Share during process
Adapted from Guided Inquiry Design (2012)
7. Collaboration - Inquiry Team:
● Content Teacher
● Library Teacher
● Technology Integration Specialist
● Student
● Other
○ Community members
○ Specialists: Scientist, Doctor, etc.
(Adapted from Guided Inquiry Design (2012) Kuhlthau, Maniotes, Caspari)
8. Key Ingredients:
● Flexibility
● Co-taught lessons
● Librarian and Tech Specialist involved from
the start of the process
● Room for student and teacher reflection
9. Tools for Inquiry:
● Edmodo:
Classroom management tool for teaching and learning through assignments such as reflections,
assessments and product submission and serves as a qualitative measure of assessment for
teacher and library teacher
● Noodletools:
Research platform where students analyze and synthesize information while sharing their work
with the teachers
● T.R.A.I.L.S (Tool for Real time Information Literacy Skills):
An easily accessible and flexible tool for school librarians and teachers to identify strengths and
weaknesses in the information-seeking skills of their students
● LibGuides:
Library Curation and Knowledge Sharing online management system
19. Student Example
Inquiry Question:
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS AND PROBLEMS
WITH CREATING FRUIT OR VEGETABLE HYBRIDS
AND HOW CAN THEY BE USED TO FIGHT AGAINST
HEALTH PROBLEMS?
26. Integrating Video Reflections:
● Chromebook video capture - Screencastify
● PC video capture - Windows Movie Maker
● Mac Video Capture - Quicktime
● Smartphones www.apple.com
plus.google.com
ogos.wikia.com
27. Growth this year:
● Visibility in classroom
○ Inquiry Space
○ Teacher Reminders
● Tuesday’s in library after school
● Teacher Edmodo - Integrating into the 9th grade content
● More check in’s prior to librarian interview
● More peer interaction - Inquiry circles, Peer to Peer
29. Thank you!
Anita Cellucci, Library Teacher
Westborough High School
celluccia@westboroughk12.org
Marci D’Onofrio, Science Teacher
Westborough High School
donofriom@westboroughk12.org
Julie Leach, Instructional Technology Specialist
Westborough High School
leachj@westboroughk12.org
