Doing Research in the 21st Century A Problem-Based Lesson for Grades 4-6
Designed by Mary Lara: mlara@fusd1.org Gretchen Markiewicz: gmarkiewicz@fusd1.org
Task
Oh my goodness! My teacher has just assigned some topics for a research project. I have no idea where to start! Every time I try to do a computer search I get thousands of hits and I don't know which ones to use. What should I do?
Inquiry questions:
What am I trying to find out?
How do I refine my search to get better results?
Objectives:
Students will use query strategies to search for information on the web
Students will refine search strategies to narrow information sources on the web
Standards
Arizona K-12 Content Standards
Writing Standard Grades 4-6
Strand 3 Writing skills particular to the applications listed here may be taught across the curriculum, although some applications may lend themselves more readily to specific content areas. It is imperative that students write in all content areas in order to increase their communication skills, and ultimately to improve their understanding of content area concepts. When appropriate, other content standards are referenced to show interdisciplinary connections.
Concept 2: Expository Expository writing includes non-fiction writing that describes, explains, informs, or summarizes ideas and content. The writing supports a thesis based on research, observation, and/or experience. PO 1. Record information (e.g., observations, notes, lists, charts, map labels and legends) related to the topic.
ISTE National Technology Standards for Students http://iste.org
ISTE NETS Student Standards: 4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. Students: a. identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation, d.use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions.
Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning
Standard 1: The student who is information literate accesses information efficiently and effectively.
Student Procedures
1. Brainstorm session: What is research?
2. Students observe teacher repared Powerpoint presentation on search strategies. Students will participate in acticities as directed during Powerpoint.
Teacher Procedure
1. Use Inspiration for the brainstorming session on research (whole class with LCD projector)
2. Introduce students to the concepts of a keyword search.
Show the Common Craft Movie: Web Search Strategies in Plain English.
3. Start students thinking about keyword selection with a class "brainstorm" around the question: "What are ways to come up the keywords to find what I'm looking for?" List all ideas on a white board. Discuss with students their experiences finding things that weren't easy to search. How would these ideas help? 4. Discuss with class the concept of keywords to narrow search terms. 5.Give students the following tips to narrow their search results:
Think how the page you are looking for would be written.
Use the words that are most likely to appear on the page.
Describe what you need with as few terms as possible.
Choose descriptive words.
Students should also apply five key questions to narrow their topics.
What is it I’m looking for? (Think about common keywords)
How would someone else talk about it? (What words would they use? How would THEY describe it?)
Which of those terms would be most common?
Which of those terms would be very specialized to this topic?
What kind of thing would make me happy? (Do I want a single web page, a definition, a collection, an image...or?)
5. Interactive Class Activity - Keyword Challenge A. Teacher or students suggest a search topic that might be used in a class assignment. Select topics from your curriculum or topics that might be of general interest to teens such as:
What rights do students have under the First Amendment?
What is the state of teen health in the nation today?
What are the all time classic book favorites of teens?
How has teen involvement in the political process changed over time?
What changes do young people want in their school or education systems?
What issues matter most to teens today?
What have schools done to "go green"?
B. Divide class into teams, tell student teams they'll be brainstorming keywords they would use to search a topic. Each team will have the same topic.
C. Either on paper, or via an interactive Google Form, students take 5 minutes to brainstorm five keywords they would use to search the topic. They can use a combination of words or use quotes or other features. They cannot use the exact wording of the search topic.
D. After 5 minutes, teachers and students share the Google Spreadsheet where the results of the form input are located. Class compares the list each team has made, discusses results and votes on or ranks the top keywords that they think would be most effective in a search.
E. Teacher tries the search terms that the students have selected as "the best" on Google. Class analyzes results and determines if they made good choices in their keyword search
An alternate approach to this challenge - teacher or students select the topic and create the keywords, then give the teams the keywords and see if each team can "guess" what the topic might be from the keywords given.
Evaluation: Students keep a search journal writing down phases and keywords they use every time they do an Internet search. Students reflect on their successes, challenges and results in using keyword searches and narrowing search terms.
Materials for this lesson:
Computer with display for classroom (or 1:1 computing)
Assessment
Decide how you will measure student progress toward the selected standards and provide them with feedback during the lesson. Create a link to assessment tools that you create. Rubistar
21st Century Skills
Materials
List the curriculum, technology and information resources the teacher and students will use to complete the lesson, including links to tutorials for software or process guides.
Add a bibliography if you used print resources, direct quotations, or images restricted by use only if cited. Use the format endosed by your school district.
A Problem-Based Lesson for
Grades 4-6
Designed by
Mary Lara: mlara@fusd1.org
Gretchen Markiewicz: gmarkiewicz@fusd1.org
Task
Oh my goodness! My teacher has just assigned some topics for a research project. I have no idea where to start! Every time I try to do a computer search I get thousands of hits and I don't know which ones to use. What should I do?
What am I trying to find out?
How do I refine my search to get better results?
Objectives:
Students will use query strategies to search for information on the web
Students will refine search strategies to narrow information sources on the web
Standards
Arizona K-12 Content Standards
Writing Standard Grades 4-6
Strand 3 Writing skills particular to the applications listed here may be taught across the curriculum, although some applications may lend themselves more readily to specific content areas. It is imperative that students write in all content areas in order to increase their communication skills, and ultimately to improve their understanding of content area concepts. When appropriate, other content standards are referenced to show interdisciplinary connections.
Concept 2: Expository Expository writing includes non-fiction writing that describes, explains, informs, or summarizes ideas and content. The writing supports a thesis based on research, observation, and/or experience.
PO 1. Record information (e.g., observations, notes, lists, charts, map labels and legends) related to the topic.
ISTE National Technology Standards for Students
http://iste.org
ISTE NETS Student Standards:
4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. Students: a. identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation, d.use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions.
Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning
Standard 1: The student who is information literate accesses information efficiently and effectively.
Student Procedures
1. Brainstorm session: What is research?
2. Students observe teacher repared Powerpoint presentation on search strategies. Students will participate in acticities as directed during Powerpoint.
Teacher Procedure
1. Use Inspiration for the brainstorming session on research (whole class with LCD projector)
2. Introduce students to the concepts of a keyword search.
Show the Common Craft Movie: Web Search Strategies in Plain English.
3. Start students thinking about keyword selection with a class "brainstorm" around the question: "What are ways to come up the keywords to find what I'm looking for?" List all ideas on a white board. Discuss with students their experiences finding things that weren't easy to search. How would these ideas help?
4. Discuss with class the concept of keywords to narrow search terms.
5. Give students the following tips to narrow their search results:
5. Interactive Class Activity - Keyword Challenge
A. Teacher or students suggest a search topic that might be used in a class assignment. Select topics from your curriculum or topics that might be of general interest to teens such as:
B. Divide class into teams, tell student teams they'll be brainstorming keywords they would use to search a topic. Each team will have the same topic.
C. Either on paper, or via an interactive Google Form, students take 5 minutes to brainstorm five keywords they would use to search the topic. They can use a combination of words or use quotes or other features. They cannot use the exact wording of the search topic.
D. After 5 minutes, teachers and students share the Google Spreadsheet where the results of the form input are located. Class compares the list each team has made, discusses results and votes on or ranks the top keywords that they think would be most effective in a search.
E. Teacher tries the search terms that the students have selected as "the best" on Google. Class analyzes results and determines if they made good choices in their keyword search
An alternate approach to this challenge - teacher or students select the topic and create the keywords, then give the teams the keywords and see if each team can "guess" what the topic might be from the keywords given.
Evaluation:
Students keep a search journal writing down phases and keywords they use every time they do an Internet search. Students reflect on their successes, challenges and results in using keyword searches and narrowing search terms.
Materials for this lesson:
- Computer with display for classroom (or 1:1 computing)
- Google Presentation "Keyword Search"
- Common Craft Movie Web Search Strategies in Plain English
*Assessment
Decide how you will measure student progress toward the selected standards and provide them with feedback during the lesson. Create a link to assessment tools that you create.
Rubistar
21st Century Skills
Materials
List the curriculum, technology and information resources the teacher and students will use to complete the lesson, including links to tutorials for software or process guides.
Add a bibliography if you used print resources, direct quotations, or images restricted by use only if cited. Use the format endosed by your school district.