Research & Development

The Inquiry Learning Forum is was developed by faculty and students at Indiana University in conjunction with teachers across the state. It is primarily funded by the National Science Foundation under grant #9980081.

The Inquiry Learning Forum is the basis for a research effort on building and sustaining "communities of practice" at the Center for Research on Learning & Technology at Indiana University. While much theory related to communities of practice has been proposed, there is little understanding of how to build and support them. Thus, the ILF represents an opportunity to be part of a cutting edge research effort.

Three major questions guide this research:

1. How can networking and electronic technologies be used to represent and facilitate the sharing and evolution of teaching practices?
2. What are the taken-as-shared meanings that emerge in the ILF communities and how do we promote boundary crossing?
3. How do the ILF members structure themselves into communities and how do we promote boundary crossing?

By becoming a member of the ILF, you agree to be part of this research effort.