OVERVIEW

The Online Research Models (ORM), developed by Baltimore County Public Schools, represent an exciting new way to guide student research toward higher-level thinking that fully utilizes electronic resources. The research models were developed by teams of library media specialists and teachers during the 1998-2003 Summer Curriculum Workshops in the Baltimore County Public Schools. Students who use the self-guided online research lessons are challenged to employ thoughtful reading, analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information to create answers, not just find them.

The ORMs are designed as web pages that present students with a clear research structure, including a research scenario, a learning task, rubrics and scoring tools, directions for use of various media resources, links to useful web sites, production of a product, and reflection. Their availability on the Internet also serves to make curriculum information accessible to parents and the general public.

BENEFITS AND OUTCOMES

By guiding students to think independently and to solve real-world problems using technological tools, the ORM reinforce Maryland school reform, Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning (ALA, 1999) and the Educational Technology Standards (ISTE, 1998).

Students learn to better communicate their expectations, and to carry out multidisciplinary and collaborative projects.

Teachers, who already feel that there is too little instructional time, find that the ORMs save time while enhancing learning.

The ORMs are user-friendly for even the most technophobic teacher.

Availability of the ORMs via the Internet helps to promote parental and community involvement, and supports the sharing of instructional resources and best practices.