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How to Get the Most From this Site

About this Site

This Canvas site showcases sample modules from several UC courses that implement inquiry-based learning. Inquiry-based course/module design is similar to lecture-course design in that both begin with a topic or a question. In a lecture course, the professor does the critical thinking to research, curate, analyze and synthesize information into a lecture that organizes the key concepts, identifies relationships and asks new questions. The inquiry approach, however, directs students to conduct that heavy "cognitive lift" themselves. Students do the critical thinking involved in researching, analyzing and evaluating information that leads to understanding key concepts and relationships. In this way, inquiry-based learning places as much emphasis on critical thinking as it does on content knowledge acquisition.

Each module in this site follows roughly the same design:

1. A topic, question or issue is introduced to students
2. Foundational knowledge is established through assigned readings and/or lecture materials
3. Research and exploration activities follow in which students investigate the topic further.
4. Students analyze, evaluate and synthesize their findings, independently or collaboratively.
5. Students construct their own understanding/response/hypothesis or conclusion to the topic through creativity and collaboration activities

The inquiry-based learning process requires a platform for sharing, analyzing and constructing new theories. At UC, we are fortunate to have a proprietary learning platform designed specifically for this purpose. It is called "SuiteC." SuiteC has been developed at UC Berkeley. It consists of three applications that work together to facilitate the inquiry, sharing and creative interactions that inquiry-based learning requires. The sample modules in this course site demonstrate various course designs that use SuiteC to implement inquiry-based learning activities. While the specific course designs vary depending on course content and instructor preferences, all of them place as much importance on developing students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills as they do on disseminating content.

We hope your exploration of this site leads you to consider implementing inquiry-based learning in your courses! Please contact Laura Rosenzweig at UC Online for more information about inquiry-based learning and SuiteC.

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