T415 – Inquiry Based Learning
Students examine a network of key concepts in the disciplines of the sciences, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences. This course provides a framework for understanding the concepts, habits of mind, and skills characteristic of professionals in each of the disciplines. The goal of the course is to prepare educators to 1) recognize important “big ideas” in the disciplines, 2) become effective in facilitating children’s emerging understandings and skills in the various domains of thinking as these understandings are cultivated in classroom life, and 3) design learning experiences that are responsive to the learning needs of children from diverse cultural and language backgrounds as well as representing a range of special needs. This course models the dynamics of a diverse and inclusive learning community using a mixture of presentation of ideas, concepts, and skills followed by discussion, activities, hands-on investigations, and demonstrations of games, materials, and technology supports for children’s learning: normally developing, special needs, and English language learners.