"The Stripling Inquiry Model has six phases; however, it's not a linear process but rather a recursive one in which the learner might revisit a previous stage to ask additional questions or organize information, as the need arises. Each phase involves critical thinking skills that empower young people to learn on their own and develop the thinking skills to be independent, lifelong learners. The phases are as follows:
Connect: observe, experience, connect a subject to self and previous knowledge
Wonder: predict, develop questions and hypotheses
Investigate: find and evaluate information to answer questions, test hypotheses
Construct: draw conclusions, arrive at new understandings
Express: apply understandings to a new context, share learning with others
Reflect: examine one's own learning and ask new questions (Stripling 2003, 8).
Technology and, in particular, Web 2.0 tools and services can be used throughout the inquiry process to support the appropriate thinking skills. The key is to focus on student learning, not the Web 2.0 technology. The focus is on the phase(s) of inquiry at which students are concentrating and deciding which technology tool can best support the thinking processes and instructional strategies of that phase of inquiry. This increases the effectiveness of both the learning experience and the use of technology. An outline of the inquiry phases aligned with Web 2.0 technology tools and instructional strategies can be seen in Figure 2."