Printer-friendly > Undergraduate Programs > Undergraduate Student Resources > Guided Reflective Inquiry Project (GRIP)

Guided Reflective Inquiry Project (GRIP)

Overview

The Guided Reflective Inquiry Project (GRIP) serves as the capstone research experience to teacher education at UBC's Okanagan campus. Through their GRIP, students complete their education degree requirements and launch their careers as practicing professionals. Its placement in the program (after the completion of modules, courses, and practicum experiences) allows teacher candidates to extend their acquired knowledge of educational theory and practice by investigating an educational issue or question that arose from their studies, readings, or field experiences.

---

Objective

The GRIP is intended to reinforce the Faculty of Education's underpinning principles:

1. The GRIP is a constructivist exercise that is project-based and learner-centered. Students chose their content and have an opportunity to become agents for their own learning.

2. The GRIP supports reflective practice. Students are able to further examine the foundation and structure of their educational knowledge and beliefs within the larger context of educational theory, research and best practice.

3. The GRIP sets the stage for independent and ongoing professional development, and models teaching as a profession that demands commitment to reflective inquiry and to life-long learning.

---

Process

The GRIP is structured as a self-directed inquiry project. Guided by their GRIP supervisor, students develop and clarify their inquiry question, research and gather resources to support an examination of this question, synthesize and consolidate their findings, and prepare a presentation in a format appropriate to both subject matter and audience. Completed projects are presented to peers, colleagues, and the public in a showcase.

---

Outcomes

GRIP encourages students to

• Synthesize and construct knowledge from their coursework and practicum experiences
• Reflect upon their personal practice as teachers
• Engage in independent inquiry
• Develop expertise as they learn more about a topic or issue
• Further develop their research skills
• Design and develop presentation materials
• Gain experience in peer presentation
• Enhance their professional portfolio with a record of independent project work

to top

Last reviewed 11/30/2011 3:00:01 PM