Foundations of inquiry

What's the relationship with inquiry learning?

Literacy encompasses the knowledge and skills students need to access, understand, analyse and evaluate information, make meaning, express thoughts and emotions, present ideas and opinions, and interact with others. These skills are essential to engaging with, and can be developed through the context of student inquiry (ACARA).

How is it addressed in the three diamonds model of inquiry?

In the three diamonds model of inquiry, literacy can be developed through:

• modelling comprehension of texts beyond the range of a student's independent ability (investigate phase)

• working with others to present their ideas or learn from alternative views (create phase)

• the way a student communicates their inquiry findings (communicate phase).

How do I get started?

Use the ACARA literacy learning continuum to help select and use appropriate inquiry learning activities to support your students' literacy.

What's the relationship with inquiry learning?

When teachers identify numeracy demands across the curriculum, students have opportunities to transfer their mathematical knowledge and skills to contexts outside the mathematics classroom. These opportunities help students recognise the interconnected nature of mathematical knowledge, other learning areas and the wider world, and encourage them to use their mathematical skills broadly. Discipline-based and integrated inquiry can provide an authentic context for numeracy development (ACARA).

How is it addressed in the three diamonds model of inquiry?

In the three diamonds model of inquiry, numeracy can be developed through:

• building the skills and disposition of students to collect and use data to support an argument (investigate phase)

• mini lessons on interpreting data from secondary sources (investigate phase)

• presenting numerical information visually (communicate phase).

How do I get started?

Use the ACARA numeracy learning continuum to help select and use appropriate inquiry learning activities to support your students' numeracy.

What's the relationship with inquiry learning?

Students develop capability in using ICT for tasks associated with information access and management, information creation and presentation, problem-solving, decision-making, communication, creative expression and empirical reasoning. This includes conducting research, creating multimedia information products, analysing data, designing solutions to problems, controlling processes and devices, and supporting computation while working independently and in collaboration with others.

Students develop knowledge, skills and dispositions around ICT and its use, and the ability to transfer these across environments and applications. They learn to use ICT with confidence, care and consideration, understanding its possibilities, limitations and impact on individuals, groups and communities (ACARA).

How is it addressed in the three diamonds model of inquiry?

In the three diamonds model of inquiry, ICT capability can be developed through:

• accessing a wide range of digital resources and managing the information collected using appropriate software (investigate phase)

• using software to create digital products or solutions for their inquiry (create phase)

• using collaborative technologies to connect with expertise outside the school (investigate or communicate phase).

How do I get started?

Use the ACARA ICT capability learning continuum to help select and use appropriate inquiry learning activities to support your students' ICT capability .