Students and teachers
Starting a new research project in a high school or college course
Use cases
About
The INQUIRY PROJECT PLANNING CHART is a structured mind map template based on the 'Focus on Inquiry' model (Alberta Learning, 2004), designed to guide students and educators through a complete inquiry cycle. It covers 7 phases—PLANNING, RETRIEVING - CHECKLIST, PROCESSING, CREATING, SHARING, EVALUATING, and REFLECTING ON THE PROCESS—with 33 nodes including actionable steps like 'Solidify thesis for inquiry' and 'Transfer learning to new situations / beyond school'. This template serves as a visual cheat sheet for project-based learning, helping users systematically plan, execute, and reflect on inquiry projects. Its layout follows a linear yet iterative flow, making it ideal for classroom or independent research.
Terms and ConditionsWhen to use this template
Curriculum developers and instructional designers
Designing a curriculum unit that emphasizes inquiry-based learning
Independent researchers and lifelong learners
Conducting a personal investigation or capstone project
How to use this template
Step 1
Launch and Review Inquiry Framework
Open the template in Xmind and familiarize yourself with the seven core phases ranging from planning to reflection.
Step 2
Customize Nodes and Project Details
Click on the thirty-three nodes to replace placeholder text with your specific research topic, sources, and detailed subtopics.
Step 3
Finalize and Share Your Project
Complete your inquiry cycle by adding final notes and exporting the map as a PDF or image for your team.
Frequently asked questions
The template includes 7 phases: PLANNING, RETRIEVING - CHECKLIST, PROCESSING, CREATING, SHARING, EVALUATING, and REFLECTING ON THE PROCESS, with 33 detailed nodes covering every step of the inquiry cycle.
Start by filling in the PLANNING section with your topic and sources, then move through RETRIEVING, PROCESSING, CREATING, and SHARING. Use the EVALUATING and REFLECTING sections to assess your work and apply lessons to future projects.
Yes, the template is free to download and fully editable in Xmind. You can customize each node, add notes, and adjust the layout to fit your specific project needs.
After completing your project, use this section to evaluate your inquiry model, identify improvements, and plan how to transfer learning to new situations beyond school.
Absolutely. The template's structured phases help teams coordinate tasks, share responsibilities, and collectively reflect on the inquiry process.
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