Jul 06 2009 02:32 pm
Posted by ekowalsk under Uncategorized
Research Processes
Joyce Many described how teachers can support the development of their students’ research skills in the article “Stories From the Classroom: Understanding and Scaffolding Children’s Research Processes.” She stated that there are different meanings of research, such as accumulating information, transferring information, or transforming information. What a student believes research means will affect what strategies students use. Teachers can scaffold students’ research strategy use to assist them in learning how to transform information by utilizing teachable moments in one-on-one and small group conferences.
Teachers need to model and teach critical literacy, such as modeling how to cross-check information and evaluate the reliability of sources. The article discussed five support strategies that teachers can use to scaffold struggling readers’ research:
- Give students a time to roam (explore topics, different sources, research methods)
- Help students find a range of sources
- Use a read-understand-write strategy for note taking
- Teach students to consider the sources
- Consider what is of value (grammar, research strategy, use of multiple sources, etc.)
What do you believe is the most important way that teachers can help students learn how to research? Is this something that is being taught in Grade 3 and beyond in your school?
Rachel on 13 Jul 2009 at 1:30 pm #
I find that most students view research as having only one of the meanings presented by Many: accumulating information. They do not think ,or do not know to think, of research as transferring information and transforming information. I think back to my time in grade school and realize the different definitions held by different teachers. My definition would change to fit the teacher’s. One way that I have enjoyed using is two-column or three-column notes. I know that many people use this a a tool for vocabulary introduction and acquistion, but it functions very well for research and note-taking as well. With this method you can acquire, transfer and transform information. With this model, the teacher is giving the notes, but students put it into their own words or visual models and finally, the models are discussed. It works extremely well…. and all it requires is pencil and paper!