Session 1: This professional development offers a refresher of the C3 Framework, including the Arc of Inquiry, and the four domains. Teaching with inquiry is not a solo endeavor, as it requires the collaborative efforts of teachers, students, colleagues, and administrators. Inquiry requires a common language of inquiry and trust between teachers and students in order to collaborate. For educators interested in implementing an inquiry approach, this training will outline instructional steps for implementing inquiry in the classroom.
Session 2: The C3 Framework provides no content at all. It only provides content-empty “skills” for how to conduct the different forms of social science inquiry—civics, history, economics, geography, psychology, sociology, and anthropology. The days of students memorizing other people’s ideas and hoping they act on those ideas are long gone. Students are not empty vessels educators dump adult information and ideas into. We are charged with teaching students the skills needed for the 21st Century workforce. The C3 Framework affords students the opportunity to develop and ask compelling and supporting questions to learn about topics and content they are interested in and excited about. Through inquiry and project-based learning, students learn how to ask questions, be curious, collaborate, problem-solve, and critically think. This workshop will give tools on how to develop an inquiry-based and project-based classroom.
Session 3: The C3 Framework has a goal of enhancing the rigor of the social studies disciplines using the skills of critical thinking, problem-solving, and participation. The NCSS has stated that "The primary purpose of social studies is to help young people develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world (National Council for Social Studies, 2013)". In order to meet this purpose, the C3 Framework motivates student inquiry. The framework is designed with the Arc of Inquiry at its center and extends across all elements of the C3 dimensions. In every dimension and area of study (economics, civics, history, and geography), there is an inquiry that allows students to seek or request for truth, information, and/or knowledge through questions. Students first prepare their questions and plan their inquiries before they use the traditional tools of research. They must evaluate their sources and evidence before they communicate their conclusions or take informed action. There are specific skills that can support the inquiry process. These skills will be the focus on this professional development session.