STEM-Integrated Design Inquiry Plan

This planning document incorporates the ‘Understanding by Design’ planning tool by Wiggins and McTighe (2005): the ‘essential questions’ and major learning objectives (taken from the curriculum) were decided, followed by determining the most appropriate assessment. Finally, the design of the learning experiences and types of guidance and intervention at each phase of the inquiry were formulated.

Although the unit plan includes suggested learning experiences, the unit is intended to be flexible and fluid, allowing for differentiated guidance and support for all students (in response to ongoing formative assessment) (Wiggins & McTighe, 2005). It also allows for students to lead the direction/s of the inquiry. The planning document should be in a constant state of flux, revisited throughout the inquiry and reshaped as the unit progresses. At its conclusion, it will create a useful document for reflection, which will, in turn, guide future practice (Murdoch, 2010; Wiggins & McTighe, 2005).

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Word document format – Learning Environment GID DT Unit – Content, Essential Qs and Assessment

STEM Design Inquiry – Curriculum Connections. Image by Lotte ten Hacken, 2017.

It may seem like there is an unusually high number of curriculum content descriptions included. It may not normally be advised to address so many, however, on closer inspection you will notice that most of them are very similar in nature and represent almost identical content from a slightly different context. For example, data collection and analysis is addressed in Mathematics, Science and Digital Technologies with very little difference between them. Furthermore, many of the ‘content’ descriptors are not actually ‘content’ (i.e. knowledge/facts) at all, but include thinking skills, processes, and the communication of ideas, that are addressed as part of the design thinking and inquiry process.  All of these curriculum aspects are brought together with a small number of ‘Essential Questions’ to be addressed through the inquiry. This represents a strength in the argument to employ an integrated approach to the teaching of STEM subjects and skills.

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Word document format – Learning Environment GID + DT Unit – Learning experiences