Background for
teachers on the
Evaluate stage of
Guided Inquiry Design.

The Evaluate phase, which occurs at the close of the inquiry process, is an essential component in
Guided Inquiry. Although Guided Inquiry incorporates assessment for determining student progress
throughout all of the phases of the inquiry process, evaluation also occurs at the end when the learning
team evaluates students' achievement of learning goals. The learning team guides students in reflection
for self-assessment of their content learning and their progress through the inquiry process. Students'
self-reflection takes place while the entire process is fresh in their minds and reinforces content learning
and establishes good habits for learning how to learn through the inquiry process." (6)

"Although Guided Inquiry incorporates assessment for determining student progress throughout all
stages of the inquiry process, evaluation comes at the end when the learning team evaluates students'
achievement of the learning goals." (153)

"The end of the inquiry process is the time when the students and the learning team evaluate to
determine whether the learning goals have been met. The learning team evaluation is paired with the
student self assessment to give a full account of learning. These two types of evaluation provide both an
objective evaluation by the team through the lens of the set criteria for meeting the learning goals and a
subjective assessment from the students' perspective of their own learning." (154)
Kuhlthau, Carol Collier, Leslie K. Maniotes, and Ann K. Caspari. Guided Inquiry Design: A Framework for Inquiry in Your
School. Santa Barbara, California: Libraries Unlimited, 2012. Print.