LCI is committed to inquiry as a process that supports learning and achievement. LCI inquiry services are designed to assist clients in any stage of inquiry implementation.

Inquiry audits support clients who have been supporting inquiry as a process or who would like to deepen or refine inquiry as it currently exists. For those who are just beginning to incorporate inquiry in a formal way or who are interested in revisiting their process, an LCI inquiry coach provides specific and dedicated guidance.

Action Research Coaching
LCI consultants can guide individuals or groups through the inquiry process, providing guidance and specific feedback through all phases of the project, from planning through publication. All feedback is provided in writing and followed up with discussion. Meetings with the LCI consultant can occur in person or via phone, video or Skype conference.

Inquiry Audit: In Support of Quality Inquiry
To support schools interested in strategically improving and deepening inquiry work that is underway, LCI conducts inquiry audits, a process that assesses and analyzes current practices and provides feedback, recommendations and strategies for improvement.

As part of this service, an LCI Consultant spends one day on–site conducting focus groups with one or more inquiry teams, observing an actual inquiry team meeting and collecting inquiry team documentation for off site review. LCI analyzes all data collected and uses it to provide a written analysis of the existing inquiry work including strengths, areas for improvement and suggested strategies.

Inquiry Audits are organized around key areas, and address questions such as:

Alignment	How aligned to significant issues, problems, or practices related to teaching and learning is the inquiry? How well is the inquiry aligned to school needs, school goals and the school quality review process? Does the inquiry build upon researchers’ (team members) knowledge and experiences, others’ thinking and current related literature and research?
Research questions and process	Do the research questions fit the focus? Are they specific and concise? Do the questions reveal the rationale for the inquiry? Are the practices being studied described with specific reference to who is involved and how they will be carried out? Is responsibility for the plan and its actions distributed and shared equally among stakeholders?
Data collection, analysis and documentation	Will the data collection techniques being used provide the information needed to answer the research questions? Do they include multiple sources of data? Are they manageable in terms of types and numbers? Are data analysis strategies appropriate for the types of data being collected? Does the documentation process capture the key components of the inquiry and support evaluation?
Time Plane	Has a realistic time frame been established – one that allows for ongoing reflection and analysis, monitoring and revising benchmarks and goals?

Learn more about LCI inquiry programs.