Developing and deciding on an action research inquiry question that is appropriate for your school's focus of improvement, that can be related in terms of student learning intentions and can be measured in terms of student learning is an interesting challenge.  It sets the direction of your Healthy Schools Network plan for the school year.

Below are some considerations to keep in mind as you work through the creative process of defining what your inquiry will be for the year.

Apply the SMART goal-setting strategy:

Apply a "learning intention" filter:

Can you restate your inquiry question in terms of a student learning intention?

Example

Inquiry question - Will participation in daily physical activity improve student fitness levels, with particular focus on improved cardiovascular fitness? (Elementary School)

Student learning intention - I know that daily physical activity will help me get fitter and I can measure my fitness by taking my heart rate at rest, after activity and recovery.

Apply a "formative assessment" filter:

Will the inquiry question measure change in student performance in some way (knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviours)?

If so, will it be possible to use a performance measure to assess student learning?

Will the Healthy Living Performance Standards provide a way of measuring/assessing student learning and provide data to support the inquiry question process?

Example

Student learning intention - I understand and can explain how daily physical activity will help me get fitter and I can measure my fitness by taking my heart rate at rest, after activity and recovery.

Healthy Living Performance Standards: Active Living Grades 4 - 6 related to this student learning intention is:

At the acquired level, the student will:

• confidently communicate the health benefits of regular physical activity using scientific facts
• be able to reflect on relationships between daily physical activity level, overall well being, and adjust personal habits accordingly
• be able to accurately take heart rate at rest, after activity, and recovery
• be aware of and understand the PRE scale to monitor and adjust exertion levels

Apply a "been there, done that" filter:

Is your inquiry question repeating action research done by another school?  If so, is this question the best use of your time and resources?

If your inquiry question has been "done" before, could you use the results and reflections from a similar case study to hone, refine or redirect your question so that your action research is going deeper into your area of focus?

Some final thoughts:

Your inquiry question should ask, "What will happen to an aspect of student learning when an element in the learning environment is changed or enhanced?"

Link your inquiry question to student learning through the Healthy Living Performance Standards to provide clear criteria for student learning and engage students in self assessment.

Decide which student evidence or performance task you will choose to show increased learning.

Decide which student evidence and how it relates to the success cirtieria within the preformance standards.

Make sure your evidence will measure what you want to measure.

Click here to submit your Inquiry Question

Inquiry Question Hot Line:

If you would like to talk over your inquiry question during its development or prior to submitting it, please email one of the following and we will be available to advise, support or just listen.

Your Healthy School Network Local Leader in the following regions: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or

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