Inquiry & CMP Research

To me inquiry based learning is defined by seeking information by questioning. All humans carry on a process of inquiry from the time they are born until the time they die regardless of whether or not they reflect upon the process. In inquiry based learning, the student goes through a process of making observations, defining questions from their knowledge background, gathering evidence using technology, using previous research, proposing a possible explanation, considering other explanations, and finally communicating the explanation. In inquiry based learning, the form of inquiry depends largely on the educational goals of the students and teachers, but always involves improving the quality of student learning by enabling the abilities of inquiry.

In comparing the Connected Mathematics Project and my definition, I do feel that the CMP is a great example of inquiry-based learning. Connected Mathematics is a comprehensive, problem-centered curriculum designed for grades 6-8 and was developed by the Connected Mathematics Project (CMP) at Michigan State and funded by the National Science Foundation. In this program, algebra, geometry/measurement, probability and statistics are covered in EVERY grade in an increasingly sophisticated manner. The program seeks to make connections within mathematics, between mathematics and other subject areas, and to the real world. Furthermore, The CMP Instructional Model is a mathematics curriculum that helps students develop understanding of important concepts, skills, procedures, and ways of thinking and reasoning in number, geometry, measurement, algebra, probability, and statistics. The three instructional phases are similar to the inquiry based learning strategies and include launching, exploring and summarizing.

• Launching involves helping students understand the problem setting, the mathematical context, and the challenge.
• Exploring is the phase in which students work individually, in pairs, in small groups, or occasionally as a whole class to solve the problem and gather data, share ideas, look for patterns, make conjectures, and develop problem-solving strategies.
• Summarizing is the phase where students discuss their solutions as well as the strategies they used to approach the problem, organize the data, and find the solution.