Research Across the curriculums by Tiffany Stephens.

Research

ResearchAcross the curriculumsby Tiffany StephensWhy research?The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) a Bethlehem, Pa. non-profit group that links college career placement offices with employers, ran a surveywhere it asked hiring managers what skills they prioritize when they hire college grads. Though the survey sample is smallNACE collected responses from just 200 employersthe wisdom is sound. New and recent grads should pay attention(Adams).Top Ten SkillsHere are the 10 skills employers say they seek, in order of importance:1. Ability to work in a team2. Ability to make decisions and solve problems3. Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work4. Ability to communicate verbally with people inside and outside an organization5. Ability to obtain and process information6. Ability to analyze quantitative data7. Technical knowledge related to the job8. Proficiency with computer software programs9. Ability to create and/or edit written reports10. Ability to sell and influence others

Which of these 10 skills can be taught and mastered with Inquiry Projects?Ability to work in a teamAbility to make decisions and solve problemsAbility to plan, organize and prioritize workAbility to communicate verbally with people inside and outside an organization.Ability to obtain and process informationAbility to analyze quantitative dataTechnical knowledge related to the jobProficiency with computer software programsAbility to create and/or edit written reportsAbility to sell and influence others

9 out of 10!

What research/inquiry isA scaffolded set of skills that enable students to solve problems, collect data, interpret information, evaluate sources, collaborate with peers, reflect on learning, organize disparate information sources, and create meaningful projects.What research is notGoogling information and regurgitating the results.So, how do we get fromHere.to here?

How to create an inquiry projectAllow students to create their own questions.Assess all parts of the research process, not just the summative assessment.Tie curriculum to real-world events/problems.Teach students to identify a variety of types of resources, even if theyre all online.Have students present assessment to an authentic audience.Follow a research processConnectWonderInvestigateConstructExpressReflect

Based on Stripling Model of InquiryConnectConnect the topic to yourself and your experience and to any background knowledge you already have.

What I KNOWWHAT I WANT to knowWhat I LEARNEDWonderThis is the step when students begin to develop their research question, or, if you have given the students a topic or question, students begin to make hypotheses and predictions. It may take a little presearch for students to develop good questions.

BloomsLevels of Questioning

CompetenceTypes of QuestionsKnowledgeList, define, tell, describe, identify, show, label, collect, examine, tabulate, quote, name, who, when, where, etc.ComprehensionSummarize, describe, interpret, contrast, predict, associate, distinguish, estimate, differentiate, discuss, extendApplicationApply, demonstrate, calculate, complete, illustrate, show, sole, examine, modify, relate, change, classify, experiment, discoverAnalysisAnalyzes, breaks down, compares, contrasts,diagrams, deconstructs, differentiates, discriminates, distinguishes, identifies, illustrates, infers, outlines, relates, selects, separates.SynthesisCategorizes, combines, compiles, composes, creates, devises, designs, explains, generates, modifies, organizes, plans, rearranges, reconstructs, relates, reorganizes, revises, rewritesEvaluationAppraises, compares, concludes, contrasts, criticizes, critiques, defends, describes, discriminates, evaluates, explains, interprets, justifies, relates, summarizes, supports.Bloom B. S. (1956). Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, Handbook I: The Cognitive Domain. New York: David McKay Co Inc.Simpson E. J. (1972). The Classification of Educational Objectives in the Psychomotor Domain. Washington, DC: Gryphon House.

Framing QuestionsFraming WordsPerson or EntityAction or ChallengeHow canHow doHow shouldHow CouldWhatI, WeWe as (fill in role or occupationCity, County StateNationOrganization NameBuild.Make.CreateDesignPlanSolveWriteProposeDecide.Real World or Historical ProblemAdapted from Driving Question Tubric, BIE InvestigateThis is the point at which students begin information hunting and gathering to find answers to their questions.

Keyword Search PlanMajor Topic: Climate ChangeThesis: Climate Change is causing major weather disasters that cost thousands of lives and billions of dollars.Subtopic: Climate ChangeWeather Disasters

CostsSynonyms or examples:Global WarmingNatural DisastersConsequencesOzone depletionDrought, Hurricanes, TornadoesImpactCRAP TestCurrency- When was this information published? Is it necessary to have current information on your topic?Reliability/Relevancy- Does your information answer your guiding question? Can you find the same information in another source? Does the source cite information?Authority- Does your source have an author? Who is it? Are they an expert in their field? Are they a journalist? What are their credentials?Purpose- What is the purpose of the information? To inform? To persuade? To sell? Why might the author want you to know this information? What bias might the author/organization have?

Based on Crap Detection 101ConstructThis is the step when students begin processing their research, organizing their evidence, and drawing conclusions.

Point-Evidence-AnalysisClaim Statement (Point):

Evidence:

Evidence:

Evidence:

Analysis (So What?)

ExpressThis is the summative/end product of the inquiry project. Whether it is a paper, presentation, poster, speech, or anything else you can dream up, this is the step in which a student EXPRESSES what they learned.

50 ways to leave your research paperor PowerPointCreate a Newspaper using publisher.Make an online animated video using Powtoon.Create a resume for a historical scientist, philosopher, or artist.Create a fake facebook page using classtools.netHold a press conference with students acting as historical figures and the press.Hold a Current Event Debate.Hold a Historical Event Debate. Create a political campaign.Hold a mock trial. Create Historical Trip Itinerary or Travel Guide using an interactive mapping tool (see Lit trips)What if _________ had never happened- Have students choose best scenarioStudent Created WebquestsCreate a blog as an historical person.Create an online timeline.Create an infographic using Easely.Annotate a picture or political cartoon using Thinglink.Create a Museum Box/Museum Display.

ContinuedMake an historical Vlog.Create a webpage using Wix or KafafaHave students create a sales pitch/ad campaign for an ancient technology. Create a PSA.Fantasy Geopolitics.Have students create their own DBQsHold a mock election for current or historical figures.Create historical fiction short storyHave students create political cartoons for historical eventsHave students create a multi-genre portfolio around an event or idea. Have students create superlatives, e.g. Genghis Khan as Most Likely to Pillage your villageSix degrees of separation- History StyleHave students participate in Project Citizen.Create a Mock Supreme Court to look at Constitutionality of new laws.Create an NGO for Human Rights issues.Write a This I believe article from historical or international point of view.

MoreCreate a Buzzfeed style list, e.g. 8 Amazing Things you Didnt Know were invented in China!Create a dialogue between two people from different time periods.Would youthe economics of riskCreate a book with ibook, simplebookletCreate a pechkuchaCreate a Which _______ are you quiz, e.g. Which Roman Leader are you?Hold a Socratic Seminar.Create an intelligence briefing for the President. Create Propaganda PostersResearch 1 event, imagine event from 3 points of view (write letters, diaries, etc.)Write a satirical story about historical eventFact Check Wikipedia Create a board gameGoogle EarthCreate Where in the World or Where in History scavenger hunt.Create a press releaseRewrite history as propaganda

Adapted from 50 Ways to leave your term paperReflectThis step gives students the opportunity for self-assessment and reflection. Just like it is helpful for you to think about what went right and wrong in a lesson, it is good for students to reflects on successes and struggles in the inquiry process.

What This Means for StudentsThe What: To help students understand content area and information literacy standardsThe How: By following a set of logical steps in their researchThe Why: So that they are prepared for college-level research, 21st workplace demands , and lifelong learning. What This Means for YouThe What: Incorporate inquiry steps into project and lesson planning. The How: Deliberately teaching students steps of inquiry process and helping them understand skills needed for each step.Use formative assessments to monitor progress.Collaborating with your friendly LHS librarian to ensure student success. The Why: To support content goals, information literacy standards, and lifelong learning.To empower students to be successful with projects. Works CitedAdams, Susan. "The 10 Skills Employers Most Want In 20-Something Employees."Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 11 Oct. 2013. Web. 07 Apr. 2014.Blooms Taxonomy. New York: Bloom's Taxonomy.org, 1972. PDF."Driving Question Tubric 2.0."BIE. Buck Institute for Education, 2014. Web. 08 Apr. 2014.Rheingold, Howard. "Crap Detection 101."Howard Rheingold. Rheingold.com, 20 Feb. 2013. Web. 08 Apr. 2014.Stripling, Barbara. "Inquiry-Based Learning." InCurriculum Connections through the Library,edited by Barbara Stripling and Sandra Hughes Hassell. Libraries Unlimited, 2003.Valenza, Joyce. "50 Ways to Leave Your Paper (revised a Bit More and Crowd-sourced)."NeverEndingSearch. School Library Journal, 04 Sept. 2013. Web. 15 May 2014.