Teaching with inquiry is not a solo endeavor–it requires collaborative efforts of teachers, students, colleagues, and administrators. In this film, we look at one innovative high school in Woodford County, Kentucky that is shifting to inquiry-based instruction. Social studies educators featured in this film show us how inquiry requires a common language of inquiry, trust between teachers and students, and collaboration. In doing so, they help us understand what makes inquiry possible.

For teachers interested in implementing inquiry in their classrooms, it can help to see what inquiry looks like in action! In this film, we feature two teachers implementing the same inquiry, Can the Civics Test Make You a Better Citizen? The teachers lead students through an investigation of a state-mandated civics test, a current graduation requirement for Kentucky students, in order to evaluate the ways in which the test addresses needed knowledge and skills to prepare students for active engagement in civic life. See inquiry come alive as teachers take us through the instructional steps of implementing an inquiry.

Teaching with inquiry means honoring a teacher’s expertise and individual craft while at the same time understanding that changing practice requires a collective effort. As teachers shift their instructional approaches to inquiry, they need support from colleagues and administrators. In this film, we feature one urban Kentucky district tackling inquiry by creating an inquiry culture that fits their unique context. The film, How Do You Build An Inquiry Culture?, is intended to be a mirror for educators who want to strengthen collaborative conversations when growing inquiry in schools.