Freaky Inquiry Reading Apprenticeship and ProjectBased Learning Freaky

Freaky Inquiry Reading Apprenticeship and Project-Based Learning

Freaky Inquiry Reading Apprenticeship and Project-Based Learning Gretchen Robertson & Jennifer Boland Skagit Valley College

Project-Based Learning is a Freirean approach to education that is focused, authentic, and student -directed. It “involves trying to solve complicated problems that do not have easy solutions or a single answer” (Behizadeh, 2014).

*Students feel fearful when asked to do student-directed group projects. *Cognitive engagement is hard to achieve with problems that are too easy to solve or are inauthentic. *Students don’t know how to perform research and analyze sources.

*Reading Apprenticeship Framework *Seemingly unsolvable, high-interest problems (Kobayashi Maru) *Metacognitive text (text about thinking)

• Creates opportunities for sharing texts • Creates a safe space for asking questions Social Personal Cognitive Knowledge -building

“After reading and researching with my classmates, I started to feel more comfortable knowing that I’m not the only one starting from scratch. Everyday I notice that I’m getting more and more motivated to learning and trying new things I never would have. ” –Michelle Bergemeier

• Creates opportunities for sharing texts • Creates a safe space for asking questions • Facilitates group monitoring of comprehension when reading high-level texts • Helps students set reading purposes and adjust reading processes Social Personal Cognitive Knowledge -building • Develops metacognition, fluency, and stamina • Develops reader confidence and range • Increases awareness of relevancy through focus on personal connections • Builds knowledge of multiple genres of texts • Builds knowledge of disciplinary discourses and practices

* Can bullying be prevented? * How can the DOC give ex-offenders the foundation needed to escape being trapped in the system? * What makes people truly happy? * How can higher education be reformed to increase student success rates for the 21 st century?

Think Like a Freak is a how-to manual for unconventional thinking and problem solving.

Process Person A shares Golden Line (3 minute) * B responds (1 minute) * C responds (1 minute) * A has final word (1 minute) Person B shares Golden Line (3 minute) * C responds (1 minute) * A responds (1 minute) * B has final word (1 minute) Continue until everyone has shared their Golden Lines

What are the steps for thinking like a Freak? Think like a Freak

Admit you don’t know the answer. “The book helped me open my mind in new ways, or really just helped me to not be scared of not knowing. ” –Brandon Mansfield

Ask the right question.

Dig deeper—Look at the foundation of the problem.

Think like a child. “This project changed my thinking because now I think like a child. This means that I’m curious to know more information about problems. I feel like I can find real answers to problems that matter to me. ” -Jorge Meza

Evaluate incentives.

Make your case.

Reading Apprenticeship Portfolio * Personal Reading History * Community Contract * New Words or Phrases List * Evidence & Interpretation Log * Talking to the Text * Reading Strategies List * Reading Inventory * Golden Lines

“Now I know that I need to make myself aware of all my own perceptions and biases in order to see the true things. ” -Serina Hinds

How can higher education be reformed to increase student success rates for the 21 st century? * Admit you don’t know the answer. * Ask the right questions. * Dig deeper * Think like a child * Evaluate incentives * See the connections