Weekly Reading #6

“Keeping students “on task” during research time in the computer lab and off unrelated websites becomes a concern of many” (Bailey, 2012).

I agree with this statement completely! I teach Business Education and every day the students work on a computer in my classroom. This can become a challenge for some students to stay on task and not wonder off to the games or other sites of interest.  That is why I think the author makes a good point about making a research assignment authentic.  Creating lessons that do not engage the students in what they consider as interesting are doomed to fail.  When the students know that their peers will be reading their work, they are more likely to get involved and care about what they write.  Allowing the students to choose their own topics helps to motivate and gives us the opportunity to learn more about their personalities and interests. Giving the students the needed guidelines to follow and still permitting freedom of choice will encourage them to become an active participant in their role as a student.

Reference
Herrmann, Bailey (2012). Writing as an Exploration: Rethinking the Research Paper, Wisconsin English Journal, Volume 54, Number 2.  Retrieved from http://journals.library.wisc.edu/index.php/wej/article/viewFile/538/579

Introducing Students to Authentic Research

• Marie Frick, an educator at ASSETS School in Honolulu, Hawaii, introduced her students to authentic research by first completing a research question together as a class, then allowing each student to create their own research question pertaining to their own interests. The freedom of choice helped to motivate them, though she noted that they needed help to narrow their interest to a single question. The completed projects were displayed at their school's Interest Fair at the end of the year for others to see. Marie also stated that, "Their parents were impressed with the originality of the students' work and with the care and pride they took in their projects." This is an example of how authentic research can engage students to take an active role in their research assignment.

Reference
Frick,Marie. Introducing Students to Authentic Research. ASSETS School, Honolulu, Hawaii. Retrieved from http://www.pfr.com/dfrick/mfrick/m-ar.html

1. What is the difference between writing a report and "doing research"?

• When students conduct research it puts them in an active role of collecting data and constructing meaning.
• Writing a report does not require students to do research, but to report and reflect on the facts and findings of others and to draw conclusions based on reading.

 2. How might doing authentic research better prepare students for the 21st century work place? Give specific examples from the "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" reading.

• Authentic research would better prepare students for the 21st century workplace by giving them experience with real world activities such as: conducting an interview, administering a questionnaire, or keeping a journal based on observation. This type of activity would place students in an active role of collecting data and constructing meaning.
• Authentic research demonstrates workplace concepts of teamwork, social practices, and group problem solving aimed at building collective knowledge, where information skills are spread across a team rather than being centered on an individual (Lloyd, 2011).

3.Why might Constructivist type learning better prepare students for the 21st century work place than Behavioral approaches?

• Constructivist type of learning is transferable to situations in the real world. It emphasises active engagement of learners through interaction, problem-solving, and other 'active' approaches.
• Behaviorist approaches emphasise changing behavior through conditioning or rewarding correct performance. 

4. How does authentic research support new media literacies? 

• Authentic research can help young people better understand their involvement in the community and the digital culture. It actively engages students in cultural competencies and social skills which they need to participate in collaboration and networking.
• Authentic research can create a social connection with each other at least to the degree to which they care what other people think about what they have created.

References

Gordon, Carol. Students As Authentic Researchers: A New Prescription for the High School Research Assignment. American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/aasl/aaslpubsandjournals/slmrb/slmrcontents/volume21999/vol2gordon

Lloyd, A. (2011). Trapped between a Rock and a Hard Place: What Counts as Information Literacy in the Workplace and How Is It Conceptualized? Library Trends, 60 (2) pp. 277-296.

Jenkins, Henry. (2007, June 26). What Wikipedia can Teach us About New Media Literacies (Part One). Retrieved from http://henryjenkins.org/2007/06/what_wikipedia_can_teach_us_ab.html

Jenkins, Henry. (2007, June 27). What Wikipedia can Teach us About the New Media Literacies (Part two). Retrieved from http://henryjenkins.org/2007/06/what_wikipedia_can_teach_us_ab_1.html