Inquiry-first teaching: plan the instructional route from learners' existing concepts and attitudes¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 design), q1 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description¶

The report's organizing theory is that teaching, like a journey, must be planned in relation to the starting point: a teacher builds instruction on what learners already know, believe, and can do. The Language Inquiry operationalizes this by surveying attitudes toward language before teaching, so the teacher can find out where to start and plan the route accordingly. The author states that people who use the technique of inquiring first and then teaching usually find that the inquiry stimulates interest and directs the student in a search for knowledge.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• The teacher must administer an inquiry of existing concepts and attitudes before planning the course, then plan instruction in relation to that starting point

Constraints¶

• The Inquiry focuses on attitudes rather than testing information for its own sake, so it locates starting points but does not itself measure content knowledge

Target Learners¶

• secondary English methods-class students
• elementary language arts majors
• high school and college English students

Target Learning Objectives¶

• language concepts and attitudes
• course planning aligned to learner starting points

Claims¶

• Inquiry-first teaching stimulates interest, sharpens reading, and helps organize course work [+W]

Related Theories¶

• Ajzen's theory of planned behaviour as a framework for puppetry-based ecology teaching

Examples¶

• The Language Inquiry: a 100-item language-attitude questionnaire benchmarked against ten linguists
• Differentiated Teaching
• Diagnostic Assessment
• Asset Based Teaching
• Relating Math to Student Strengths
• Reflecting on Student Strengths and Challenges

Key Sources¶

• Frogner, Ellen A. (1969). Using the Language Inquiry as a Teaching Device. Illinois State-Wide Curriculum Study Center in the Preparation of Secondary English Teachers (ISCPET). https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED034768