Inquiry

Project-based lessons teaching technology skills

Overview

SUMMARY:

Inquiry is a set of project-based lessons developing K-8 students’ technology skills. Inquiry offers project-based lessons in math, science, ELA and social studies, as well as supplementary technology skills lessons. Inquiry is available for a per-student subscription.

GOALS:

Inquiry is a set of project-based lessons developing students’ technology skills. It was designed to introduce students to the technology and 21st century skills needed to succeed in the modern world. Simultaneously, it helps schools and districts feel comfortable with a project-based approach by providing many project-based lessons just one piece of software.

APPROACH:

Inquiry offers a variety of project-based lessons in math, science, ELA and social studies. The program also offers lessons in supplemental technologies that are necessary for students to work through the projects. Six Inquiry lessons are provided for each grade K-8.

Students select a project to work on, and first take a technology skills pre-test to ensure that the student has the skills to complete the chosen project. Based on the results of the pre-test, Inquiry will assign the student to one of the supplemental technology lessons to build technology skills.

Individual lessons are organized around a central question (e.g. “How can you stay safe while using the internet?”) and are broken into district tasks. A rubric for each project helps the student to track her success while completing the project. Students are expected to complete the project using internet research and critical thinking; they can also communicate with their teacher or other students in the class through the program. A self-reflection closes each project.

Once finished, the project is sent to Inquiry’s online gradebook, where it can be reviewed and graded. Teachers can easily mark a project based on the rubric provided through the software.

IMPLEMENTATION:

Inquiry is available through a modern browser, as well as on native iPad, Android and Kindle Fire apps.

PRICING:

Inquiry is available for a per-student subscription of $8/student/year. Inquiry is purchased by a school leader or district administrator.

WHO IS USING IT?:

As of December 2014, Inquiry was being used by more than 50,000 teachers and students in more than 1,000 schools.