Inquiry Foundations for School Librarians is an introduction to Guided Inquiry Design® (GID) that helps K–12 school librarians clarify their role, strengthen their instructional identity, and step confidently into inquiry-based collaboration.
Designed specifically for school librarians, this course positions the library as a powerful learning space, not just a support service, and librarians as essential partners in designing, teaching, and sustaining inquiry-rich learning.
Participants will explore the full Guided Inquiry Design® framework, understand the emotional and cognitive journey students experience during inquiry, and examine how information literacy is taught most effectively when embedded in authentic learning.
Through practical examples, reflection, and immediately usable tools, librarians will learn how to:
- articulate their role across all phases of Guided Inquiry Design®
- collaborate strategically with teachers
- teach information literacy at the point of need
- structure library time for deeper inquiry
- take visible, confident first steps toward inquiry leadership
This course provides a strong foundation for librarians who want to move from supporting inquiry to leading inquiry, while opening clear pathways for deeper professional learning.
Who This Course Is For
This course is designed for:
- K–12 school librarians (elementary, middle, and secondary)
- Librarians new to Guided Inquiry Design®
- Librarians seeking clearer instructional and leadership language
- Librarians working independently or beginning collaborative inquiry work
No prior experience with Guided Inquiry Design® is required.
What You’ll Gain (Learning Outcomes)
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- explain the Guided Inquiry Design® process and its research base
- describe the emotional, cognitive, and instructional dimensions of inquiry
- identify your role as a librarian across each phase of the GID process
- distinguish inquiry-based information literacy from isolated skills instruction
- implement inquiry workshops, mini-lessons, and core GID tools
- take a strategic first step toward inquiry collaboration in your context
