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Guiding Students' Research

I have created "Research Guides" and other instructional materials to help my students through their own inquiries. Over the years, these materials have evolved - mostly in guidance from the teacher becoming more simplified so that students can make the materials work for them (instead of "filling in the blanks"). Below are the materials that I currently use and would recommend for other teachers' implementation when guiding students' inquiry. 

Note: Due to the nature of Project-Based Learning and Guided Student Inquiry, it's very difficult to state the time needed for each lesson. Therefore, I've organized my lesson materials by what students do before, during and after their own research.

Before Research:
Students need to be clear about the topic they're studying, what questions they're looking for answers to, and where to look for information before they even open their computers.

• Here is a lesson where my students practice brainstorming questions using Costa's Levels of Questioning.
• Next, they use the same model for brainstorming questions for their own research.
  • ​Student Samples:
    • ​Government in Medieval Europe (focus on organizing own research)
    • ​Aztec Civilization (focus on Levels of Questioning)
• My students review their questions each day throughout the beginning and middle of their research.

During Research:
Students need to have a document that organizes their questions, answers they find, and the sources they have used. I've learned, especially during my action research, to keep my instructions simple so that students can organize their own work and become more proficient and autonomous over time.

It is also crucial that at all times, students know what to do or where to look when they struggle in their research. Therefore, I do all of the following:

• provide clear, chunked instructions in writing
• organize all student resources under one topic in Google Classroom ​
• combine the sources that students find into a Student Resources document that is shared with all classes

After Research:
Students need to know what they're going to do with the information they'll find through their research, particularly how they'll need to share their findings. During my action research, my students needed the following information about their final product - a group digital presentation (using Google Slides and Screencastify) that they would share with their classmates as well as parents at our school's Project Night.

Group Digital Presentations:

• Presentation Guidelines: students have access to these guidelines well in advance, so they know what they're working toward the entire time
• What Makes a Good Digital Presentation?​ - students analyze these tips with their group members before planning and creating their presentations
• Peer Feedback for Digital Presentations: groups use this form to gather feedback and revise their work prior to presentation day​

Students also need to reflect on their research process, in a timely and quick way. I frequently use "exit tickets" either on paper or through Google Forms to have my students quickly and meaningfully reflect. Here is an example of one such exit ticket and student answers:

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Organization of Digital/Media Literacy Resources

When searching for lessons and pathways to teach students digital literacy, there are multitudes of resources available. However, just like in students' research, there is information overload for teachers as well.

To organize and make sense of the plethora of resources offered by Common Sense Media, Google, Stanford History Education Group, PBS Learning Media and more, I used Mindomo to create this Digital Literacy Mindmap - with links to all of the lessons and resources. I hope you find it useful in your lesson planning.

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Recommended Digital Literacy Lessons 

Be Internet Awesome by Google - corresponds with ISTE Standard 2: Digital Citizen

Google Be Internet Awesome Digital Safety and Citizenship Curriculum (June 2019) - includes extensive lessons and activities

Pear Deck Lessons - Relevant, interactive lessons that are ready to use.

Be Internet Awesome for Educators - Digital Safety Resources

The Interland game is great for elementary school and students who are newer to using the internet.

More lessons, from Google and Common Sense Media, for teaching ISTE Standard 2: Digital Citizen can be accessed through these parts of my Digital Literacy Mindmap:

Click on any mindmap picture to get to all the resources attached in the mindmap.

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Civic Online Reasoning (COR) by Stanford History Education Group (SHEG)
corresponds with ISTE Standard 3: Knowledge Constructor

Introduction Video: Civic Online Reasoning

Civic Online Reasoning in the Classroom

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Lessons I have adjusted and shared with NVUSD Middle School Social Studies teachers for the Distance Learning Modules:

• ​Saturday School Series

More lessons for teaching ISTE Standard 3: Knowledge Constructor (from Civic Online Reasoning [COR], Crash Course Videos, PBS Learning Media/KQED, and EasyBib) can be accessed through these parts of my Digital Literacy Mindmap:

HOW-TOs

REFERENCES

ASSESSMENT