Creating a Research Module

For decades students have been sent to the library to "find out about" some topic.

This tradition has led to information gathering but little analysis or thought.

1. Engage users in higher order thinking skills

2. Provide users with an easily accessible internet activity.3. Provide a structure to support investigation.

1. Introduce a “new” research style

• questions posed that require higher order thinking

• questions involving “real life” situations, problems or dilemmas to solve

• questions that require that students to make answers instead of finding answers.

• using/creating information - not gathering and reproducing

2. Provide a simple introduction to using the     internet for research

• no experience necessary for teachers or students

• appropriate sites hot linked

• worksheets and guides to presenting findings supplied

3. Provide a structure or scaffold to support student investigation. 1) Scaffolding provides clear directions

2) Scaffolding clarifies purpose 

3) Scaffolding keeps students on task 

4) Scaffolding offers assessment to clarify expectations 5) Scaffolding points students to worthy sources 6) Scaffolding reduces uncertainty, surprise and disappointment 7) Scaffolding delivers efficiency 

8) Scaffolding creates momentum 

1. Provide a brief introduction or background to     the “problem”

2. Set the task or question to be tackled - it MUST engage higher level thinking skills3. Provide points to consider - the information which will assist in making the decisions4. Locate and link the www sites

5. Provide worksheets if necessary and helpful6. Indicate how the work will be assessed 7. Suggest presentation formats