FIN Commons

For many faculty, engaging student voices as objects of Inquiry may seem rather obvious. After all, if we want to know what our students are thinking about their education, it would make sense to ask them. What may seem less obvious, however, is the idea that students have a role to play as Co-Inquirers.

There are many ways to integrate students as Co-Inquirers in your team’s Inquiry. We hope the list below offers some starting points for you and your team. We will add to this list as we begin to hear other ideas from FIN teams. The ideas below pre-suppose that you have a student team with whom you are working, but keep in mind that for some of these strategies you can engage students in a more ad hoc way. For example, “e” below works very well with students in any class you may be teaching.

1. Student interviews Student.
2. Student interviews Faculty, Counselors, Administrative personnel, etc.
3. Students administer assessments; collect data; conduct research; read relevant literature about your Inquiry.
4. Students take part in your team’s meetings, where their contributions to the evolving Inquiry can be made.
5. Students help you problem solve, for example, a data dilemma your Inquiry has uncovered.
6. Students act as admin-assistants. This kind of work is unavoidable as Inquiries evolve, and students take to it well. This will lighten your workload and thus your stress levels!
7. Students help out—or take the lead—in all phases of Making Visible;