Google

My first search: What are the benefits of inquiry learning approaches in primary school settings? 21 000 000 results!

I typed this precise question into Google and it yielded interesting results. Obviously, it searched for each of the terms, so I wanted to shorten the search phrasing to match specific terms as highlighted in the mind map: benefits, inquiry learning, approaches primary school/students.

Uncovered new key terms: Pedagogical, understanding, truth, information, knowledge, goal for students to make meaning, internally motivated, process, curiosity, wonderment, curiosity, discipline, common inquiry processes such as Telstar, 5Es. I read an interesting article about IBL in Lutheran schools and one from Teacher Starter. The beginning searches informed me about what inquiry based learning was, the benefits and types.

New terms & ideas: Inquiry learning habits of mind, interrelated subjects, start with a challenging problem, natural differentiation, acquire knowledge, IBL, Jerome Bruner, evidence-based teaching strategies.

This led me to find a teaching strategies article.

More new terms & ideas: genuine connections, increased student engagement and reduces student anxiety, authentic learning, IBL as a multifaceted process, open questions, big ideas.

There were lots of blogs that came up in this search, though on the second page was a journal article, specifically relating to kindergarten. I was able to gain a few other terms to help search for other inquiry learning articles.

My second search: How can teachers assist students in developing effective inquiry questions? 122 000 000 results!

This search produced a few of the websites that I uncovered from the first search. There was an insightful journal article that focussed specifically on the power of questions.

New terms & ideas: On task questions, cognitive questions.

After these two initial searches, I realised that my questions were too broad and did not relate to what I now want to know about inquiry learning. This is a result of reading more articles, participating in the online Zoom tutorials and conversations about my future TL role with my school principal. As the teacher-librarian role at my school is likely to continue next year, and increase to at least two days per week, I am left to ponder: What is the role of the teacher librarian in inquiry learning? To be more specific, and relating to my initial thoughts about the importance of questioning techniques, how can teacher-librarians assist primary students to create useful inquiry questions?

Revised Mind Map

My third search: I utilised Boolean Operators = "Teacher librarian" AND "assist" AND "primary" AND "inquiry" AND "questions"

This Google search displayed many links to journal articles about inquiry learning and teacher librarians, such as The role of the TL article. The first result in the search was the article by Hilary Hughes. I also liked the visual diagram Chu (2009) presented, as this is how I see inquiry learning working at my school in collaboration with the TL.

New terms & ideas: collaborative inquiry project-based learning, information literacy, concept-based instruction, personalised learning. Some of the reference lists from this search included Bruner, Dewey and Kuhlthau, potential for TLs was addressed, link from ALIA to student outcomes, teacher librarians as curriculum partner leaders.

An article of interest included: The Next Generation of School Library and ThinkSpace.

I felt that this search was more about the importance of the role of a teacher-librarians in a school, and not specifically inquiry learning, so I need to refine my search at this point.

My fourth search: “Teacher librarians” AND “primary students” AND “inquiry questions”

I loved the infographic about the role of students and TLs with inquiry learning, but this was specifically related to English. Do I need to be more specific about the subject area? This search related to the importance of TLs and inquiry learning, but not specifically how they can help with the questioning technique. Perhaps this is too narrow of a focus question? I wonder what influence my previous search history in Google has on the search results?

My fifth search: “Teacher librarians" AND "inquiry questions”

This yielded a few articles of interest, such as TL best practices, and Jaeger and Ratzer were names in an article about librarians and inquiry questions. This search also led me to Mandy Lupton’s inquiry learning paper, the Changing Role of the TL article and the Importance of librarians to teach specific vocabulary information.

New terms & ideas: brain based learning, vocabulary, authentic.

My sixth search: “Teacher librarians” AND “useful inquiry questions” yielded eight results, so I changed it to “Teacher librarians” AND “inquiry questions” 5500 results

Many links to information about teachers and teacher librarians: A review of problems students encounter and instructional solutions and The points of inquiry.

New terms & ideas: information-based problem, inquiry-based reading.

My seventh search: “Teacher librarians” AND “inquiry" AND “questions” 34 700 results

This search yielded questions about inquiry, rather than the role of teacher librarians in assisting students to develop effective inquiry questions.

Favourite resources:

Valuing the impact of the teacher librarian from an evidence base

AITSL standards

Virtual Library

Teacher librarians, an under-utilised asset in schools

New terms & ideas: Evidence based, non-googleable questions, resource-based learning

After spending some time looking at the Google searches, it has me thinking again about the questions I have been asking. I have changed the focus to include the role of the teacher-librarian, in the hope it might provide more answers about what teacher librarians can do to be a greater assistance for students in the inquiry learning process.

From: How can TLs assist students to develop rich inquiry questions? To: What is the role of the teacher-librarian in the inquiry process?

Now it’s time to try Google Scholar with a new search focus.