Rivers and Us and the inquiry learning cycle

Water quality monitoring – like that carried out in Rivers and Us – is well suited to the inquiry learning cycle. Educator Anne Barker discusses the benefits.

Question for discussion:

• What does Anne mean when she says water quality monitoring may involve longitudinal investment by the school and community?

Transcript

ANNE BARKER

In terms of the inquiry learning cycle, you’re looking at giving kids the opportunity to say, what is the current situation?

LYN ROGERS

We are measuring the flow of the water through the stream.

ANNE BARKER

Rivers and Us helps to find out what is the current situation. So what are the actions that are possible? That comes out of the data that this resource can develop. OK, so they take action, but then they also think, so what has changed? They reflect back on what’s gone well, what has improved? The difficulty could be this could take a very long time. But then you’re going to have that longitudinal investment by the school, by the students, by the community. That’s going to support an ongoing monitoring system. So being able to come back to reflect and then think, OK, so what now is our current situation? Because it’s an evolving system – it carries on, you know.

Acknowledgements

Anne Barker
Te Whai Toi Tangata Institute of Professional Learning
Lynnette Rogers
The Fairfield Project
Hannah, Jess and Sam, Waikato Diocesan School for Girls
Aex Daniel
Waikato Regional Council