ABSTRACT
Inquiry instruction is full of surprises. Many of these surprises are positive, such as learning how much students can indeed take control of their learning, how eager they can be about complex and extended learning adventures, and how effectively they can help each other learn. Students improve dramatically when teachers directly teach them to recognize main points, find topics and subtopics, and write summaries in their own words. The students took these shortcuts when they felt pressured to produce, timelines were short, and they felt they received insufficient teacher support. Teachers can take time at each stage to provide students encouragement and help them avoid pressure, especially with high-stakes situations, such as when facing public presentations. Modern teacher-librarians in Vancouver, British Columbia, explain where to find new information on the computer for learners with limited access to technology and show how to use this newfound information creatively.
