Step 1 Encounter the Task
..........Researchers begin encountering the task when they:
............. Recognize the need for information.
............. Become aware of possibilities.
... ......... Select general area of need/concern.
... ......... Seek background information.
A Goggle search...a report...searching the web...looking "it" up in a book? There are as many definitions for research as there are people who conduct research. Your prior experiences with research have shaped both your definition of and your feelings about research. Before we build a common definition, share your background knowledge and feelings by completing Questions 1 - 4 of Reflective Journal #1. |
|
||||||
For the purposes of the Independent Research Course, we will need to arrive at a common understanding to the question, "What is research?" View the PowerPoint, Guide to Independent Research, and complete the activities to create your definition of research. When you have completed the PowerPoint, compare your definition to the ones in Visual Thesaurus and the Glossary of Research Terms. Return to Reflective Journal #1 and write your definition of research; then, explain how it has/has not expanded as a result of the activities you completed. |
|
|
 |
|
Who is a Researcher? An Investigator...Analyst...Scientist...Inventor? What about someone who explores the mathematical relationships within the musical aspects of rhythm, pitch and sound waves; is he/she a researcher? What about a high school student who conducts a statistical analysis of SAT answer distribution? Could two high school students (one a sophomore) successfully complete independent research on "Supercomputing Analytical Discovery of Plasma Instabilities in Fusion Energy Reactors"? The Princeton Review tells us that "Researchers collect, organize, analyze, and interpret data and opinions to explore issues, solve problems, and predict trends. There are many different kinds of researchers: Social Science Researchers, Market Researchers, Public Opinion Researchers, Scientific Researchers, etc." To learn more about researchers, click on the Princeton Review link. As you read, take notes and share your thinking in Reflection Journal #3. Finally, use the photo and invention details of one of the student inventors on the National Gallery for America's Young Inventor's and also view his or her comic strip to begin to answer the question, "Who is a researcher? |
In Reflection Journal #4, describe some of the benefits from the research you plan to conduct. Think about how your research project will benefit you and society.
Next, explore the ethics, codes, and policies that guide researchers. Discuss in a Socratic Seminar why or even if it is important to adhere to ethical norms in research. If this is the first time you have participated in a Socratic Seminar, preview the Student Guidelines for Socratic Seminars.
Unlike the four reflection journals you have completed so far, the majority of your journals will be self-initiated as you reflect on your new learning, problems you are experiencing, and on the process of conducting research. Reflection helps you:
|
 Learn more about the value of reflective thinking by reading the Research Paper on Reflective Thinking and Journal Writing. |
Click on the Directions for Writing a Reflection Journal for guidelines on saving your reflections and prompts to jump start your thinking. |
|
Here are three options for managing all of the background information you collect. You may choose to use just one or a combination or another tool entirely. Keep in mind that you want a tool that allows you to:
- access your notes and resources 24/7 from school and home;
- add entire web pages or clip just the section(s) you need;
- save photos, graphs, Word and PDF documents;
- and easily add, organize, and search your notes.
 |
Evernote allows you to capture
your ideas, graphs, photos, voice memos, web pages, and just about
anything else that you want to include in your research project. The best part: Evernote is always within arm's reach. There are versions of Evernote for Windows, Mac, the Web, iPhone, Windows Mobile, and other mobile devices. Each of these versions of Evernote is always synchronized, so any information added in one place is instantly available everywhere else. Click on Getting Started with Evernote to begin. |
 |
Live Binders is an online 3-ring binder. It allows you to combine web content with PDF and Word documents in an online binder. The binder can be organized into tabs and subtabs and be embedded on blogs and other websites, or downloaded to a computer desktop. You may want to create a Live Binder to keep yourself organized as you complete
your research project. When the project is finished, you can turn in the final project as a Live Binder that includes all web research, notes, and the final written work. Check out the video tutorials to learn how to set up and use your Live Binder. Once you have set up your Live Binder, you may want to view this Live Binder on creating a truly great Live Binder. |
 |
Zoho Notebook - Notebook Zoho makes it possible to create a notebook which can be filled with
various different types of content. Multiple notebooks can be created and
content can be added to them. It’s possible to put content anywhere on the notebook so that it is organized in a logical format. Audio can be recorded and embedded, photos can be uploaded, and video can be uploaded from your webcam. It’s also possible to attach files to your notebook. |
 |
Baltimore County Public Schools' Digital Content and Databases - Search for a topic of interest in a subject-relevant database and authoritative results are just a click away or download the iPhone app to view the Gale Cengage digital content library subscriptions for your phone. Android app is coming soon! Also, the Gale Cengage digital content can be downloaded to your mp3 player for "learning to go." |
 |
Maryland AskUsNow - Live Chat with a network of librarians who will provide resources or answers to a question 24/7. |
 |
Google Labs - Google Scholar Search through journal articles, abstracts and other scholarly literature. |
 |
Google Labs - Data Visualization Project The Google Public Data Explorer makes large datasets easy to explore, visualize and communicate. As the charts and maps animate over time, the changes in the world become easier to understand. You don't have to be a data expert to navigate between different views, make your own comparisons, and share your findings. |
 |
The Thinking Classroom - Reflect and Connect Thinking Tools The Connection Cube interactive activity helps you connect new learning to what you already know and what you still need to learn. The One-Minute Paper gives you an opportunity to look at ideas from multiple points of view. |
- become aware of an array of possibilities to explore
- select a general area of need or concern
- seek background information in order to extend their personal understanding
- break down the task into its component parts
More information and tutorials about Step 1 - Encountering the Task can be found at the Information-Seeking Process Model for Secondary Students. Additional resources and lesson plans are available through the Research Course wiki.