To me inquiry is a model of teaching that encourages self-discovery from students. It is a backwards approach to teaching where the students explore the concept and develop their own schema prior to be taught. It is problem solving at it's best in which the we apply abstract concepts to real life. It can be done through questioning and active learning. It makes learning engaging and excitement. I agree with Diana Laufenberg in the aspect that it is teaching and allowing students to fail because from failing they learn to actually learn.
Mini- Lesson
After reading Engage, Enhance, and Extend by Liz Keren-Kolb I realized that I have to re-train my brain for my mini-lesson. My school is considered a International Academy, so for my mini-lesson I would really like to use the international concept as a way of bridging technology and math around the world. I would really like to Skype a math class in another county and have the students compare the ways they solve a particular concept in America and the other country. I believe that will be a neat way to extend math out side of the normal classroom. Since testing is starting I am really interested in developing mini-lessons that I can use soon as a way of trying out new ideas for next year. I have not seen many math students blog or create websites at my school. These are all ideas I would really like to try.
