RESEARCH PROCESS GUIDELINES

2002-2003

With the arrival of the computerized catalogs, databases, and the Internet, the challenge for teachers and librarians as they help students to do research has changed from one of finding information to one of finding the best information. 

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) has developed guidelines for information literate students and adopted Nine Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning.

Nine Standards:

http://www.ala.org/aasl/ip_nine.html

Teachers and librarians around the world have worked together to help students not only find the best information, but to go one step further –- to help them create new knowledge based on research, work together as teams, evaluate web sites, etc. as they research.

Several designs for research such as the McKenzie “Research Cycle” and Eisenberg’s Big6 Ô have become the standard approach for walking students through that process of research. Mariemont City School District (MCSD) utilizes the McKenzie Research Cycle, the Big6 Ô and Web Quests in taking students through the steps of research. These designs are also posted as part of the Information Literacy Scope Sequence K-12 document. See the Grade by Grade version at:

  http://doc.mariemontschools.org/dscgi/ds.py/View/Collection-119

The links listed in this document are provided to help you familiarize yourself with these research guidelines. You will note that though the approaches are different, they do have common bonds, such as brainstorming, questioning, and planning research, seeking, organizing, evaluating and synthesizing information.

When students leave the MCSD, they should be comfortable with a method of research that takes them through the various steps as described in these links. With information literacy skills they will be empowered to do independent research as “lifelong learners”.

The Research Cycle (McKenzie)

http://www.questioning.org/module/cycle.html

Here is the basic strategy for designing an online lesson using the Research Cycle:

http://questioning.org/module/module5.html

Here is a template to use when you design a lesson/project utilizing the Research Cycle:

http://questioning.org/module/module6.html

Here are some sample modules at the Baltimore Public Schools that  

utilize the McKenzie Research Module:

http://www.bcpl.net/~sullivan/modules/

Both Bernie Dodge and Jamie McKenzie write extensively about “Scaffolding for Success”

http://fno.org/dec99/scaffold.html

There are other basic designs for taking students (and adults) through the research process and/or “problem solving” techniques.

Comparison of Research Process Approach (McKenzie)

http://questioning.org/rcycle.html

Comparison of Information Skills Process Models

http://www.shambles.net/ITinset/Appendix/ISmod.html

Of those designs that are compared in the above chart, one of the most popular is:

The Big Six  (Eisenberg and Berkowitz)

http://www.big6.com/

Applying Big6 Ô Skills and Information Literacy Standards to Internet Research

http://www.surfline.ne.jp/janetm/big6info.htm

The Super Three (for primary based on the Big6 Ô )

http://academic.wsc.edu/redl/classes/Tami/super3.html

SEARCH ERIC LISTSERV ARCHIVES (a great way to find Big6 Ô and Super 3 projects)

http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/#Search

Another approach to “scaffolding for success” is often used when designing Internet projects/ lessons. This approach is called a “Web Quest”.

The Web Quest Page (Dodge)

http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/webquest.html

Web Quest (Overview)

http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/overview.htm

Building Blocks of a Web Quest

Note that there are web quest examples at each “building block”.

http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/staffdev/buildingblocks/p-index.htm

Five Rules for Writing a Great Web Quest (by Bernie Dodge)

http://www.iste.org/L&L/28/8/featuredarticle/dodge/index.html

A Road Map for Designing Web Quests

http://webquest.sdsu.edu/roadmap/index.htm

What is a Web Quest (PPT)

http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/Lincoln_HS/Burleson/workshops/WQ_Workshop/wq_intro_files/frame.htm

To add another interesting perspective, read Doug Johnson’s article on “Designing Research Projects Students (and Teachers) Love:

http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/nov99/johnson.htm

In conclusion, keep in mind the following definitions of Information Literacy, as you work to help students become lifelong learners:

       http://nosferatu.cas.usf.edu/lis/il/definitions.html#literacy

Rev August 13, 2002

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