After reading the selection on Inquiry in Kist's "The Socially Networked Classroom" (pg.75-79), Kist poses some interesting questions. Here are my responses:
1. Students express discomfort with taking part in learning activities that have no clear-cut answer or solution. Why are people uncomfortable with these projects? What can teachers do to structure the activity in a way that learners are successful?
I think students are uncomfortable with this mainly because most classrooms are structured to teaching information which is learned and tested. There is a right answer for those questions. Even the high stakes OAT/ OGT are formated to make students think that life is about know the right answer to mark. However, in real life, people are constantly problem solving, no matter what the field. Sometimes, there is no wrong solution, just some that are more effective, more cost productive, more thoughtful, or more creative. I do think there are people who like things with a clear cut answer, so for some dealing with ambiguity is not comfortable. Teachers can help students be successful by breaking down the steps to the project so that they can assess if their students are progressing in a correct manner to complete the project. They can show how the project mirrors real life situations. They can share rubrics that show that the "answer" isn't what will be graded, but other aspects like the research, presentation, or collaboration.
2. How could Google Docs or blogs help with inquiry projects? What do they take away?
I haven't had an inquiry project with these platforms, but I can imagine they would help immensely. Following my classmates' blogs and commenting on them helps me stay connected to them despite us not meeting physically in class. I can see how Google Docs could allow us to edit or do separate research and then add these parts together with ease. Teachers at our school use Edmodo to share powerpoints so that students can combine slides from their partner's presentation in their own to make one show. I think the only thing they could take away in the face to face time. Knowing my classmates from a week of class helps me feel connected to them when I comment on their blog. I think they would feel more like strangers if we didn't have this connection. Or we'd have to communicate socially on Twitter or Facebook to build a bond.
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