Vice-President’s Message
By: Robert Jardine
Questions are at the heart of learning, particularly in social studies. Why did this person make this choice? What are the potential impacts of this government’s policies? Why did these people move from there to there at that time? What might happen if…? From childhood humans understand their world through questions; curiosity is a powerful force and central to what it means to be human. The numerous disciplines encompassed by social studies like geography, history, economics, psychology, and law are avenues by which students connect with the experiences of others to understand social, political, or cultural events, analyze our relationships with the physical environment, and evaluate options for crucial decisions. Inquiry learning, centering students’ questions in the learning process, honours our innate curiosity and empowers students to become informed, active, and engaged citizens in our often challenging world.
This issue of Salon presents three articles regarding inquiry learning. While no single pedagogical approach is a panacea, we believe that you will find ideas and information in these articles that answer many of your questions about how to engage students in meaningful learning.
Providing support for teachers is an important function of this organization. Please check the publications section of our website for other teaching resources, free of charge and adaptable to your specific teaching needs.
Now entering our sixth year of operation, we are pleased to have helped colleagues in Newfoundland and Labrador launch a new provincial social studies teachers network in connection with our AGM in St. John’s this past October. Supporting our colleagues in the creation and maintenance of professional networks across Canada drives much of our efforts.
The path to helping teachers answer the question “How can my students learn more effectively?”, involves partnerships with several organizations, including the Government of Canada, The/La Collaborative, the Academy of Korean Studies, Thinking Historically for Canada’s Future, and the Korean War Legacy Foundation. We value their support and are pleased to have their company as we seek answers to our questions.
