Designing for Deep Understanding Through Sustained Critical Inquiry
Connect & Engage
Critical and creative thinking, engagement, and inquiry are popular terms in today's educational landscape. How do we promote deep engagement in learning with our students? How can critical and creative thinking act as both the catalyst and a methodology that support deep learning? And, what is the role of the teacher in promoting critical engagement with the curriculum?
Working with a particular unit of study, participants will explore ways to frame learning around rich over-arching questions and challenges and will consider the power of sustained inquiry in which the careful sequencing of a set of provocative inquiries leads to deep learning.
Learn
Nurturing critical and creative thinking requires intentional design that invites and supports deep learning. Participants will explore how the four fronts for critical inquiry (creating cultures of thinking; creating invitations for thinking; building capacity of thinking; providing guidance for thinking) can help create "Thinking Classrooms".
Participants will also explore the power of a Cascading Challenge approach to curriculum design. Cascading challenges allow for sustained critical inquiry that flow from an over-arching provocation through a series of focus inquiries. Making effective use of "learning launches" helps to promote a powerful iterative approach that leads to deep learning.
Reflect & Apply
Working with a selected unit of study, participants will apply the four fronts for creating thinking classrooms as well as the cascading challenge approach to enhance the learning opportunities for students. In this approach to learning, the relationship between teacher and student becomes more of choreographer and coach than umpire.
Participants will work with the concept of a "Thoughtbook" that promotes forward reflection and can be a powerful tool to use with students. They will also craft a ‘Guide to Success’ that can be used as a powerful learning tool to guide students as they move deeper into their learning.
