In any new learning situation, skilled teachers make intentional decisions about how much support to offer, when, and for whom. As the teacher varies the intensity of support, learners transition through the levels of modeled inquiry, structured inquiry, guided inquiry, and open inquiry. These levels provide initial, flexible guidelines for how you might tailor your inquiry and digital experiences depending on the amount of openness and the cognitive demands required.

Over time, and with assistance, learners of any age become more creative, more positive, and more independent in how they conduct their inquiries in ways that prepare them for problem solving in the real world.

This chapter offers examples of each type of inquiry and includes four questions to consider as you look for opportunities for students to have more agency as part of personal digital inquiry.