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Research & Inquiry

Research & Inquiry

Welcome to the Research & Inquiry topic page. These resources are designed to spark deeper dialogue around teaching research and inquiry across the curriculum. Explore how to support learners in growing from mere consumers of information to independent thinkers and investigators, and receive regular inspiration on ways we can collaborate to create a culture of inquiry in our schools.

Collaboration

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Great things happen when we work together. If that wasn't obvious before, our "new normal" has powerfully demonstrated the importance of collaboration for problem solving and meeting the needs of our students and school community. One avenue where we repeatedly see the advantage of combined efforts is in research and inquiry-based learning. Supporting students as they construct meaning around a topic of real interest to them benefits from the expertise of both the social studies department and the library. The resources on this page provide evidence to these benefits and blueprint how to increase the connections between these two realms to deepen student research experiences. Read More >>

Classroom & Library

Hacking the Research Paper with Human-Centered Design

Hacking the Research Paper with Human-Centered Design

Learn the steps to transform your research assignments into human-centered projects in both the library and the classroom with road-tested, easy-to-replicate exercises and web-based resources that will nurture your students' empathy and strengthen their talents for collaboration, creativity, and inquiry.

Professional

Professional "Pick-up" Lines

When I first started as a librarian, I had to fish for collaborative teacher friends. I didn't wait in line for them to swim up to me, but I floated around the building with a baited hook. My pick-up lines included, "How can I help you?" "How can I connect to your curriculum?" "How can we work together to increase achievement?"

Jumpstart Your Co-Teaching Conversations

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Jumpstart Your Co-Teaching Conversations

Five steps to help you connect with colleagues and jumpstart your next collaboration!

Transforming the Research Unit into Learning for Life

Transforming the Research Unit into Learning for Life

The research unit, for many educators, is a tedious, formulated lesson that does little to actually teach the act of inquiry to students. Imagine though, if research were taught throughout the school year as a method for learning.

Classroom & Library

Democracy in Action!

Democracy in Action!

Students need opportunities to practice civic discourse if we want to enhance the national discourse; it must start in the schools.

Inquiry Superheroes: Be the Connection

Inquiry Superheroes: Be the Connection

Sue Kowalski shares six steps that have helped her embed inquiry instruction into more and more of her work with students.

Classroom & Library

A Teacher's Perspective: Building Student Interest

A Teacher's Perspective: Building Student Interest

Jessica Gerber, a high-school English teacher shares the story of her collaboration with the librarian at her school to create a research project centered around real-world issues, and Liz Deskins reflects on the takeaways that we can all learn from their experience.

Learning that Sticks: Engaged Educators + Engaged Learners

Learning that Sticks: Engaged Educators + Engaged Learners

Judi Moreillon and Michelle Luhtala examine the 21st century landscape and evidence-based learning, demonstrating the central role of the school librarian using New Canaan Public School District as an example of how to teach students and make the learning "stick."