I give my students the SLIM (School Library Impact Measure--CISSL) survey before they begin their project. Almost unanimously students indicate interest and optimism in going to the library to do a research project. It's almost like comments you would get from a little kid going to grandma's house. "It's exciting" "different" "better than being in the classroom everyday" "I like that I get to go the library instead of my regular classroom. It's fun to change things up.." You can see that there is a sense of anticipation and that expectations are that everything will be ok. But what happens at the end of the first day of a unit project? How are the students feeling then? I use nightly journals that force students to reflect on their research process. Without this time to reflect students will plod through and probably get what the project is requiring them to get in terms of content, but how did they get to that content? That is just as much a part of the learning that is typically glossed over, not thought about, by students or teachers. When time is taken for this reflection students begin to build strategies that will provide building blocks for thinking about information needs and how to wade through their information choices.This helps me to track students' understanding or gaps in understanding as they go through their research project. To share with you some journal reflections at the end of day one...."I am honestly overwhelmed with the whole process". The story has certainly changed from the positive feelings that were expressed in the SLIM survey. What I have discovered is that students want to explore, they want to find things on their own but they also need structure to help them figure out how to even begin. Many do not know what they don't know. They flounder trying to put together what they think they know without the underpinning of how to ask the question for the ideas they think they have. I don't know about you but that sounds pretty perplexing to me. Using my research model ANTHILL, that is based on Guided Inquiry and Dr. Carol C. Kuhlthau's Information Search Process, I am able to structure the process while allowing independent inquiry and exploration. Here is the Research Model I have been using for over 13 years and was published in my book Guided Research in Middle School: Mystery in the Media Center. Linworth, Pub. I have adapted this model for upper elementary school, modified it for special education students, and am now using it for accelerated students in high school.
7 STEPS TO THE RESEARCH MODEL:
1. A Begin with Analysis. What is your problem? What is your general interest at this point? What do you already know about the topic that is sparking your interest? Write these thoughts down. You may want to do a quick background search to give you some things to think about.
2. N Before you search for in depth information it is important to put together a plan of attack. What key words do you think will help you? What are the broad and narrow categories? Are there synonyms that might help you? Make a List. (I call this Nothing is Something because you might need to think of what you want to get out from many different ways to attack, different words, different perspectives)
3. T Think of all your possibilities. What are some things you are wondering about your topic? Write a list of at least 5 thoughtful “I Wonder” statements. You will return to this list over and over in your pursuit of information and this list will help guide your focus. This list may expand over time as you discover new questions.
4. H Gathering your information. You will be HUNTing for a lot of answers as you process through. You will need to record your citations. You will be required to collect ______number of citations that must include _____Database or Book Citations, ________Internet sources, and the remainder may be your choice.
5. I Isolate/Interpret. You will be required to take notes on the material you are collecting and make interpretations of this information and identify if this material is addressing your “I Wonder” statements.
STEPS 3, 4, 5 will cycle for every source that you are collecting.
6. L Learn Direction by Reflection. You will be required to respond to a research journal using google docs. during the duration of this project. You will receive a prompt that you will need to respond to by 8:00 pm on the same day that you receive the prompt.
7. L How will you present your learning? Link it all together!
1. A Begin with Analysis. What is your problem? What is your general interest at this point? What do you already know about the topic that is sparking your interest? Write these thoughts down. You may want to do a quick background search to give you some things to think about.
2. N Before you search for in depth information it is important to put together a plan of attack. What key words do you think will help you? What are the broad and narrow categories? Are there synonyms that might help you? Make a List. (I call this Nothing is Something because you might need to think of what you want to get out from many different ways to attack, different words, different perspectives)
3. T Think of all your possibilities. What are some things you are wondering about your topic? Write a list of at least 5 thoughtful “I Wonder” statements. You will return to this list over and over in your pursuit of information and this list will help guide your focus. This list may expand over time as you discover new questions.
4. H Gathering your information. You will be HUNTing for a lot of answers as you process through. You will need to record your citations. You will be required to collect ______number of citations that must include _____Database or Book Citations, ________Internet sources, and the remainder may be your choice.
5. I Isolate/Interpret. You will be required to take notes on the material you are collecting and make interpretations of this information and identify if this material is addressing your “I Wonder” statements.
STEPS 3, 4, 5 will cycle for every source that you are collecting.
6. L Learn Direction by Reflection. You will be required to respond to a research journal using google docs. during the duration of this project. You will receive a prompt that you will need to respond to by 8:00 pm on the same day that you receive the prompt.
7. L How will you present your learning? Link it all together!