Critical Inquiry: Using Text to Connect to the Academy

National Association for Developmental Education. 170 Kinnelon Road Suite 33, Kinnelon, NJ 07405. Tel: 877-233-9455; Fax: 973-838-7124; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://nade.net

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College Freshmen; College Preparation; Inquiry; Program Effectiveness; Reading Instruction; Critical Reading; Student Centered Learning; Notetaking; Reflection; Reader Text Relationship; Class Activities; Classroom Communication; Academic Discourse; Program Descriptions; Access to Education; Higher Education; Disproportionate Representation; At Risk Students; Peer Relationship; Questioning Techniques; Reading Assignments; Writing Assignments; Learner Engagement

When evaluating the effectiveness of their program, members of the Brooklyn College SEEK Department, a higher education opportunity program, decided to make their pedagogy more student-centered. They created a method of reading instruction, which they named critical inquiry. Its goals are to build community through teaching students to annotate, question, and reflect on text. The use of student-generated questions as the basis for classroom activity not only makes for livelier classroom discussions, it welcomes students to academic discourse, validates their experiences, and fosters confidence in their learning. The elements of critical inquiry are transportable and can be used in varied disciplines and skill levels.

As Provided

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2016

EJ1097435