August 5, 2009 – If you’re looking for an example of the successful implementation of inquiry-based learning in the classroom, take a trip to Botha School and introduce yourself to Peter Weeks.

An elementary school with five teachers and fewer than 100 students, Botha School sits 14 kilometres east of Stettler. Under the guidance of Faculty of Education alum Principal Weeks, it has wholeheartedly embraced inquiry-based learning.

“We have been working on developing cross-grade, cross-curriculum thematic units designed to help our students meet curricular goals through the lens of 21^st century literacy skills,” he says.

‘Captain’ Peter Weeks

Understanding that students today are faced with a very demanding future, Weeks and his staff introduced inquiry-based multiliteracy activities to help them successfully meet these challenges.

The school year is split into three sections, each with its own theme; past themes include units on pirates, the Wild West and Medieval Europe (the pirate unit was a tough one for Weeks when students ‘mutinied’ and shaved his beard.) Teachers develop projects involving research, technology integration and collaborative problem solving for the students. During the Wild West unit, students watched introductory documentary videos on rodeo, video-conferenced with the Cowgirl Museum in Texas and worked with a cowboy poet.

Students themselves take an active role in their learning by planning and carrying out individual research projects. The school year wraps up with a community-wide fair.

“It has been a bit overwhelming,” says Weeks of the program’s success.

It’s a sentiment University of Calgary Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI) Co-ordinator Joanne Steinmann confirms.

“I was there and saw the enthusiasm with which everyone was involved and how meaningful the experiences were for both students and adults,” she says.

Steinmann, who was part of the AISI team responsible for providing funding and support for the Botha program, recalls “there was great energy and a wish to share the experiences and to describe their influences on the entire community.”

Enthusiasm for teaching is something Weeks says he has always had. Prior to returning to the U of C for his MA in his early 30’s, he worked as both a journalist and business manager but says he felt unfulfilled.

“I had always been drawn to the part of my job that involved working with younger people and in particular training and learning.

“In every job I held I sought out opportunities to educate.”

With such a powerful need to teach, it’s hardly surprising that Weeks received a 2008 Provincial Excellence in Teaching Award.

“I was truly humbled to be in the company of such brilliant and outstanding educators,” he says.

“Although I got the fancy plaque and the nice pin, the award really belongs to the Botha School community, to all our staff, both professional and support, to our parents and students.”

For more information on the creative work being done at Botha School, visit http://botha.clearview.ab.ca/.