Inquiry at GFA

INQUIRIES

Inquiries deepen a student’s understanding of a given subject or facilitate the development of a skill beyond what is possible in the rest of the curriculum. Students will typically • partner with a faculty mentor alongside a small cohort of peers to write substantial research papers, • explore a topic in greater depth than in traditional courses, and/or • learn a new skill or gain knowledge about a topic that is not covered in the curriculum.

Students may enroll in only one inquiry per department each year. Inquiries are 0.5 credit and generally open to 11th- and 12th-grade students; they vary in level depending on the nature of the work. Departments offer a variety of Inquiries; students who would like to propose one that is not in the catalog should speak with the appropriate department chair by April 1. Inquiries are not prerequisites for Advanced Inquiries.

ADVANCED INQUIRIES

Advanced Inquiries, available to 12th-graders, are designated as the highest level of academic rigor at GFA. They generate the highest level of understanding, demand the greatest skill, and offer the most latitude for students to exercise their agency and follow their curiosity about their chosen subject of study.

In these courses, students will • identify a problem and ask their own questions, • chart their own paths of inquiry, • present their work to a real audience, and • deliver an original piece of work.

Students may enroll in only one Advanced Inquiry.

Students interested in completing an Advanced Inquiry will be invited to workshop their ideas with faculty early in the spring semester of 11th grade, in advance of submitting a request for the appropriate Advanced Inquiry course through the course counseling process.