Sunday June 18, 2006
Blog #5 Internet Research
Description of Tool/Resource/Strategy
The Internet as a research tool has evolved tremendously over the past ten years. Encyclopedias are obsolete for those with access to the Web. The Internet provides one with current, diverse information from many and varied sources. With the advent of mega-search engines and advanced searching techniques students can access information that would not have been available to those of us who went to school pre-Internet.
Key Findings from Reading
Valenza, in her article, ?Substantive Searching ? Thinking and Behaving Info-Fluently,? describes her experience with students? use of the Internet for research. She describes the information-fluent student and the skills/knowledge that student must have for success. Students must know what they are looking for, know there are search choices, know research holds, know evaluation strategies, and know about advanced searches and types of searching. Student must also know what is quality and be aware that the Internet is interactive. Valenza also tells teachers what they can do to encourage the student.
Reflection
The typical student in my class chooses to research for several assigned papers the easy way. They ?google? it. Whatever pops on Google is what the student uses. I think students need to be taught the abilities and behaviors listed by Valenza. While the student may know what they are looking for, I think they need to have a short lesson on the rest. I plan to put together a research lesson for my students. I typically assign only two or three papers (short) in programming, one for social/ethical issues in technology and one as a current event/issue in the programming industry. While I provide students with a rubric and many external links on the class Blackboard site, I don?t think students really make use of available resources.
In my new lesson, I need to review searching strategies, advanced search options, types of searching as well as evaluating the information/site. Students also need to be taught how to organize their information and plan their project. Many students appear to have never been taught how to organize, or they simply do not apply it in my class. After presenting this information, I would like to give students a current events research paper. The student will need to use multiple sources, including an industry site. After reviewing several sites, I would like students to present their topic and proposed sites before they begin their paper. I would provide scaffolding to the student with an electronic matrix they can use or a concept map option. I have searched out many sites where students can start. I could create a folder on my Blackboard site to provide students with all of this information as well as beginning appropriate sites for them to start their searching. In the product, I will have students annotate their Works-Cited list to encourage them to really think about their sources quality and appropriateness. Once the paper is complete, the student can turn everything in to me electronically with sources as hypertext links. Posted by lpkeller ( Jun 18 2006, 08:25:45 PM EDT ) Permalink
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