Part 2: Adapting the workshop for virtual learning (Craig) by Craig Sutton

4. How Will I Ensure a Balance Between Facilitator- and Participant-Led Inquiries and Commentaries?

csutton36 — 2025-07-05 07:43:41 UTC

I will try to obtain this balance by:

Introducing key concepts and giving instructions through brief facilitator-led segments

Handing over control to participants in breakout rooms, where they will create inquiry-based lesson plans and collaborate on shared tasks

Using tools like Padlet and Mentimeter to give participants a platform for sharing, questioning, and commenting on each other’s ideas

Encouraging peer feedback and presentations to broaden participation using Glow and Grow feedback

1. How Will I Build a Community of Learners in the First 30 Minutes?

csutton36 — 2025-07-05 07:44:04 UTC

I will establish community norms for virtual engagement: encouraging the use of cameras, chat, and reactions to create a safe, welcoming environment where all voices are valued.

I am thinking I will begin by using Mentimeter to ask participants to share one word they associate with inquiry in their classrooms, creating a visual word cloud that highlights our collective starting points. If not, I would just use Zoom Chat to collect words and read some of them aloud.

Next, I will place participants in Zoom breakout rooms where they will introduce themselves and their school and subject.

7. Which virtual tools might you use to nurture reflection throughout the workshop, not just at the end of an inquiry?

csutton36 — 2025-07-05 07:44:43 UTC

I am thinking of embedding reflection by:

Using Mentimeter survey to gather responses and help frame reflective discussions after the main engagement activity

Using Padlet comments for participants to ask questions, challenges, and sharing of “aha” moments during activities

Encouraging brief Zoom chat-based check-ins and reflections at the close of key segments

Concluding the workshop with a word cloud of personal action steps to prompt forward-looking reflection — automatically created from Mentimeter response

Time

csutton36 — 2025-07-05 07:53:49 UTC

The original opening activity had participants do a 5-minute inquiry search on types of inquiry. To save time—since breakout room activities tend to take longer than face-to-face ones—I will ask participants to pre-read (about 10 minutes) Thinking Pathways: Inquiry Based Learning.

I will also jigsaw this opening activity rather than have participants write definitions of all four inquiry types.

Long silences during group "sharing"

csutton36 — 2025-07-05 07:58:07 UTC

I think displaying the discussion questions on a presentation slide helps everyone stay focused and understand what we’re meant to discuss.

Asking breakout groups to decide in advance who will present can also help things run more smoothly.

Using Mentimeter surveys to frame discussions allows all participants to contribute and provides a visual reference to guide and respond to the questions.