Wishing

Wishing

Overall, the inquiry experience went well for me even though I couldn’t narrow down my questioning for my topic (Webbing) and I truly felt this journey was intense (Weaving).

Well, strength of this project was that I was able to find a lot of quality information that answered my four questions on my topic.  Also a second strength is that I can reuse these great resources again.

In regards to the Power Point presentation, I felt the strengths of my product were the content and graphics in the form of ClipArt.  In reflection, if I had more time I would have created a Pathfinder addressing the four questions of my topic and possibly even adding some more questions and thus going back to the ‘Webbing’ phase.

The weakness of the process is that I couldn’t get a response from an expert or a forum on answering some of my questions from my topic.  For instance, I wanted to know why someone would want to use environmentally friendly cleaning products.  The benefits of using vinegar.  Also what ingredients worked best by itself or in combination for cleaning specific areas in the house?  I don’t think the omission of this information necessarily hurt my product because I had reliable sources but it would have offered an authentic perspective to my audience.  In addition, I would have learned additional information about my topic for my own purpose.

If I had more time I would have sent out a survey at the start of the project so the participates would have had ample time to respond to me. 

The start of my personal inquiry journey is similar to students of all ages because we are all trying to locate information about something that we want to know more about.  In our quest to find the answer to our question and/or solution to our problem, we would ideally use an inquiry-based model. 

I realize as I was going through the inquiry process for this project, I used Dr. Lamb’s 8 w’s model as well as Dr. Carol Kuhlthau’s  Information Search Process model (the feeling stages) in my research endeavors.  I have acquired this naturally or rather automatic response to completing research based assignments over many years.

My personal inquiry experience is unlike students and young adults I will encounter in my profession as a library media specialist because they are still learning which model and/or combination of different inquiry based models work successfully for them in their goal to solve a problem and/or answer a question.   On the emotional level, I felt the wide range of feelings that Carol Kuhlthau attached to her phases in her Information Search Process model.  Since students of all ages are less experienced and less sure of themselves, I know there emotions will be more pronounced and intense for them.  Therefore, I will need to constantly give them guidance and encouragement from one step of the process to the next.  My ultimate goal would be to help them understand the inquiry process by teaching them the different models (and the feelings associated with the model if it is applicable) so they will eventually move effortlessly from one phase to the next as I do in my personal inquiry journey.