What issues might stand in the way of inquiry learning in the school?
A number of issues might hamper inquiry learning in a school including teacher resistance, learner experiences and time.
Some teachers can be very resistant to change. They continue to work and teach the same way they have for years because it works. Introducing them to a way of learning where they have less control on the outcome can be scary, especially if the focus is on content. If students are allowed to choose their own questions, how can we make sure they choose the right ones that get them the knowledge they need (i.e. the curriculum tells us they need to know).
Learner experience is also going to play a part in success of inquiry learning. If this is a new way of learning teachers need facilitate the learning, providing the students with opportunities engage in this type of learning and support them through the process by giving them the skills they need. Learner experience outside of school is also going to play a huge part – at the school that I work out well over 90% of students are EAL. Many of them lack the vocabulary and knowledge of the world that other students have.
Lastly, time may be a problem. The priorities of the school and meeting the needs of the curriculum can hamper inquiry based learning. Again at my school because the students start school already behind, the focus is on getting basic literacy and numeracy skills for our students. It doesn’t leave a lot of time to work on anything else.
What issues might stand in the way of collaboration between teachers and teacher librarians to carry out inquiry learning?
As above a number of issues might hamper collaboration between teachers and teacher librarians to carry out inquiry learning.
School timetables need to be set up to allow teachers and TL’s the time to work collaboratively, many primary schools I know still use libraries as RFF. Teachers and TL’s need the time to plan a unit of work, then they need the time to implement that unit of work. The library also needs to be a space where collaboration is possible – for both the teachers and the students. Finally, teacher attitudes to working with others is also going to play a huge part. Not everyone is open or willing to try something like this, teachers come from all types of background and not all are willing to work with others.
