Introduction to Collaborative Inquiry

Use this Tool to:   

 understand collaborative inquiry as a process for improvement and experience how collaboration strengthens understanding and problem solving.

Pre-Meeting Prep:   

 

 
  • organize your staff into small groups
  • sheets of identical paper
  • measuring tape
  • recording sheet

Suggested Timing:   

   30 - 40 minutes (adjust time as needed)

Steps:   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Build (5 minutes): Give each group identical materials and tell them they will be building a paper airplane that will fly the farthest. Each team designs and builds one paper airplane. They can use only the materials provided. Everyone should contribute ideas. 

2. Test and collect evidence (5 minutes): Launch your airplane 3 times. Record the airplane performance on the recording sheet. You are observing the distance travelled on each flight, the flight pattern (straight, curved, nosedive, etc.)

3. Analyze the evidence (5 minutes): A a team analyze the results of the test flights. Discuss:

  • What happened?
  • What patterns do we notice?
  • What evidence supports our observations?

4. Develop a theory (3 minutes):  From their evidence each team develops a theory, one focued hypothesis that can be used to complete this sentence:

  • We think our airplane woulld perform better if we ____________________________________ because _____________________________________. 

5. Improve and test (10 minutes): Make only one modification to the airplane based on the groups's theory. Complete three more test flights and record data and observations. 

6. Compare results and reflect (5 minutes): Teams discuss:

  • Did the change improve performance?
  • What evidence supports your conclusions?
  • Were any results unexpected?
  • What did we learn?

7.  Whole Group Discussion (10 - 15 minutes): After teams have finished their discussions, move to a whole group discussion. Have the group consider the following questions:

  • What role did evidence play in your decisions?
  • How did discussion with teammates influence your thinking?
  • Did every change lead to improvement?
  • How is the process similiar to improving student learning?
  • What characteristics of collaborative inquiry did you experience during this activity?

Additional Notes:   

 

 

 

 

 

Key take away from this activity: Improvement happens when teams work together to examine evidence, test ideas, learn from results, and adjust their actions accordingly. This is the essence of collaborative inquiry and the foundation of effective school improvement.