Collective Inquiry helps educators to build shared knowledge and learn together – Asia Society Partnership for Global Learning

In this column, we often report on qualities and practices of high-performing school systems. Today, my colleague Aparna Patankar writes about collective inquiry, and how it helped build some of the enviable teaching forces in the world.

By Aparna Patankar

Collective inquiry is the process by which educators build shared knowledge and learn together. […]

In Singapore, each school has a professional learning community. Collective inquiry is embedded and supported throughout the system. Within professional learning communities, teachers are divided into learning teams of four to eight members who work together to improve student learning. Learning teams collaborate to refine lesson plans and materials, teaching strategies, and assessment practices. The aim is to use collective inquiry to engage educators in an ongoing cycle of reflection that promotes collective learning and continuous improvement.

Teachers in China also utilize collective inquiry to improve their practice. Shanghai teachers, for example, teach relatively few classes, so that they have plenty of time for preparation. Senior and junior teachers practice and refine lessons together to video. Teachers observe one another teaching in an effort to learn from one another. Further, Chinese systems require teachers to have several open classes each year, so that other teachers and even trainees can learn from and guide them. […]

In Japan, teachers participate in regular lesson study, during which teachers, along with their peers, review lessons and consider how to improve them. This process allows teachers to better understand student errors, provides a mechanism for self-reflection, and generates consistency in teaching. […]

Some U.S. schools and districts are working to change their teaching culture to support engagement in collective inquiry. Evolving from a culture of closed classroom doors and isolated teaching to one that encourages professional collaboration and sharing is one of the biggest challenges facing our system.

Next week, I will share practical advice on utilizing collective inquiry in your school.

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