For our second to last class, we had Trevor McKenzie as a guest speaker, talking about his experiences with inquiry-based teaching. Contrary to stereotypes about inquiry-based learning, He told us that it can include content-based learning and direct teaching, and that it was adaptable to subjects one might normally consider suitable for that approach.
In my own experience this semester, inquiry projects were initially a great source of stress. I felt very unclear and uncertain about what would qualify as an acceptable project, what would be an appropriate scope and size, and how to go about starting it. However, especially for my EDCI 780 Inquiry project, I really “got into a groove” as I progressed, and started to learn to have more faith in my own judgement and creativity. My project combined elements from my pre-PDP background: my experience with acting and film editing, as well as my history working at Craigdarroch castle playing the Dunsmuir family’s butler for school tours Christmas time. Here’s a sample:
This is one element of an interactive historical video tour of Craigdarroch that ties into the topics of the coal industry, politics and indigenous displacement in the late nineteenth century. This project has been increasingly enjoyable as I have progressed through it, and I have learned some interesting facts along the way!
An entertaining and educational video. Great job!