Examples of how to incorporate RRI into lessons

Ark of Inquiry proposes multiple ways how to include rri aspects in your everyday work in the classroom. Integrating rri into your work means involving pupils in discussions with peers, encouraging them to give presentations in schools and for larger audiences outside of the school setting. rri brings the pupils out of the classroom and vice versa, also invites the world into the classroom. For example, pupils could visit a scientist in a research institution or invite the scientist into the classroom for a discussion on a certain topic.

In terms of developing rri awareness, teachers can highlight questions that relate to the relevancy, consequences and ethics of the inquiry activity that is currently being implemented. For example,

• questions about the relevancy can include ‘What problem does the inquiry activity solve and what need does it address related to you, others and society?’ and ‘Who uses (or will use) the outcomes of the inquiry activity?’
• questions about the consequences of an inquiry activity include ‘How are the outcomes of the inquiry activity of use to yourself, others and society?’ and ‘What are the side effects for yourself, others and society?’
• questions related to the ethics of an inquiry activity can include ‘From which perspectives do you, others and society value the inquiry?’ and ‘Should the inquiry activity proceed or stop?’

Here is an example demonstrating how rri can be integrated into an inquiry learning cycle, at the beginning of the activity to engage pupils and stimulate their interest, and at the end reflecting on the consequences based on their findings. The same example can be downloaded here.