Multicultural Democracy and Inquiry Pedagogy

Abstract

This paper is an examination of the intersections between the concepts of multicultural democracy, inquiry pedagogy, and classroom-based use of the Internet. Data from research on a professional development project is used to illustrate the ways in which the central tenets of multicultural democracy, as set forth by Marri, can be addressed through the use of inquiry pedagogy. In addition, the benefits of the Internet as a classroom tool are explored in relation to the goals that multicultural democracy and inquiry pedagogy share. The vital role of the teacher in formulating and presenting lessons consistent with these goals is emphasized throughout. "It falls into my whole philosophy of social studies education, how I think children can learn the social studies. You really have to be a part of it -- it's not a bunch of information. It's social. It's how people interact and a process like [inquiry] makes learning content and learning about old ideas and new ideas a social thing. That's why the classroom is here -- to do things like that. Inquiry allows for it and encourages it." (Tom W, teacher participant in a professional development project on technology-supported inquiry)