Kendra's+Research+Notes

**Independent Investigation Method**
Steps for Basic Independent Level Process: //1. **Topic**: Students web prior knowledge and questions on a concept map for their independent topic assigned or chosen from the class unit of study.// //2. **Goal Setting**: The teacher helps students set goals for their research.// //3. **Research**: Students use a variety of resource types to gather and record information using notefacts.// //4. **Organizing:** Students organize notefacts by categories.// //5. **Goal Evaluation:** Students demonstrate knowledge acquisition and skills development by completing teacher - chosen activity(s).// //6. **Product**: Students create product(s) to show what they have learned during their research studies.// //7. **Presentation**: Students present product(s) to an appropriate audience.// IIM teaches students - not only the steps to research, but how to locate relevant information, narrow a topic using goals to help the students stay on track, how to organize information located, and then making a product to demonstrate their knowledge of their topic. Then to self-assess and assess others is another higher level thinking skill students need.

Nottage, Cindy, and Virginia Morse. //7 Easy Steps to Successful Research for Students in Grades K-12: Teacher Manual//. Epping, NH: Active Learning Systems, 2006. Print. __My Notes:__ I like the structure of this process. The book goes through and shows you how to teach the model before actually using the process as a research model. The steps to follow are easy to do and easy to remember. Students can easily remember the steps and will learn more from the research process than just the product itself. I also like that for K-2 students, they use the same steps and language for students to carry through all their research years.

**Big 6**
The Big 6 is an information problem-solving approach developed by Michael B. Eisenberg and Robert E. Berkowitz. It is the most popular model for information skills. It includes the following steps:


 * **Task definition****﻿**
 * **Information seeking strategies**
 * **Location and access**
 * **Use of information**
 * **Synthesis**
 * **Evaluation**

Although The Big 6 only includes six steps, some primary teachers find it overwhelming for their young learners. As a result, teachers have developed modified versions to meet their needs. Eisenberg and Berkowitz have developed a version called the [|Super 3] for very young children. It includes three steps:
 * Super 3**
 * **Plan**
 * **Do**
 * **Review**
 * []**

__MyNotes:__ Big6 reminds me of IIM. It has simple steps for students and teachers to remember while going through the research process. I also like the 3 steps for younger students to start the process of research and learn just the basics.

FLIP It!

[] __My Notes:__ This process is not bad except that I think it would be beneficial for older students (not K - 3). For the 4 - 6 grade students, this is a bare miminal outline for students to follow and therefore I think the other - bi

Four Tasks of I-Search
I-Search is a process that includes four general steps:
 * **Selecting a topic** - exploring interests, discussing ideas, browsing resources
 * **Finding information** - generating questions, exploring resources
 * **Using information** - taking notes, analyzing materials
 * **Developing a final product** - developing communications, sharing experiences

I-Search is "an approach to research that uses the power of student interests, builds a personal understanding of the research process, and encourages stronger student writing" (Joyce & Tallman, vii). The key element of this approach is that students select topics of personal interest. This model also stresses metacognitive thinking. Students are asked to keep a log of their action, thoughts, and feelings as they move through the process. In addition, students are asked to reflect on their previous research experiences to set the stage for an appreciation of the research process. [] __My Notes:__ I like this one because students get to select their topics based upon their interests. But, does this carry over to those topics that students will have to cover - whether they like the topic or not? I like that it is only 4 steps - like the Flip It model, but does it go into enough depth for each step to keep students on track with their topic?