What counts as success in inquiry?
First of all, we don't believe in the concept of failure in learning. You've either learned all you need, or you need to learn a little more. In inquiry, success is the feeling that you know how to take the next step, and can continue moving forward!
What are some prompts I can use to help us think about projects to do?
What would you change if you were in charge of your school or neighborhood?
What is something that would make your school, neighborhood, or city better?
What is something that would make your life or the lives of other people better?
In your free time, what topics are your genuine interests?
What's something you've always thought you'd learn about someday, when there was time?
For Teachers
What should I do if my students are choosing a project that seems impossible to me?
Take a deep breath, and let them try. Remember that completion is not the metric. And ask them lots of questions that will help them identify tasks that need to be done, and how long those tasks might take. Let them surprise you.
What should I do if my students are choosing a project that seems impossible to me, Part II?
Along with the students, think through the risks. Think about what could happen if things go as planned, and think about what might go wrong, how you would respond, and how you would feel. It's a great time to realize, if you have an event and not many people come, that's OK! It's all learning and preparation for next time. Thinking it through ahead of time takes the fear out of it, and also, you can think of some ways to improve your plan. Examples of ways plans might not go as intended: There is very poor attendance at the bake sale. You receive no response from the emails sent. Most people misinterpreted the survey question and did not respond as expected.
