Reading # 1
Quote
- "When teaching the research unit, we should ask our students to do authentic research; we should remind ourselves and our students that research is something that happens across disciplines to answer genuine questions; and we should consider that research is often presented in various formats" (Herrmann).
Explanation of Quote
- I realize this quote is rather lengthy, but I just could not part with any of it. The author summed up the article with this quote. Authentic research is key. Research is not just a collection of quotes from other articles. Research does not apply to just English class. Research happens across disciplines and answers genuine questions. It is also important for students to realize that research does not always need to be presented by paper; videos, blogs, wikis, etc. are all ways of presenting research.
Extra Resource
- Source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbZbyCXxoVTzIPAojx3-e2zItEzwAlUKpax0YophPoQTDVAQ5u1ynhS4ilNberbksUn3O5VLMg0rRBGjrX77NGPbkyZ0hEuy6-KJTJovezlgmbDwzcGgAqLc8YgaGoGteXxDtXF34BIuj/s1600/reportcard+plagiarism+cartoon.gif
Resource Description
- When given an unauthentic project, this is what you'll get ;).
Article Citation
Herrmann, B. (2012, Fall). Writing as an Exploration: Rethinking the Research Paper. Wisconsin English Journal, 54(2), 49-51. Retrieved June 30, 2013, from http://journals.library.wisc.edu/index.php/wej/article/viewFile/538/579
Reading # 2
Questions
- What is the difference between writing a report and "doing research"?
- The typical assignment 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. "Doing research" causes students to become active participants of the process.
- 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.
- As last week's article suggested, "While education has been seen as the critical ground for information literacy research, I would argue that it is workplaces that should be used to inform the library and education sectors' provision of information literacy education." Authentic research will prepare students for authentic work place situations. Authentic research would include that which intermixes school and home/workplace.
- Why might Constructivist type 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. Students learn to think through issues that do not have prescribed responses or preset solutions. Students learn to identify what is important to them, to construct new meanings, and to explain their new understanding to others in some way that is authentic to the topic. Behavioral approaches are not easily transferred to situations in the real world.
- How does authentic research support new media literacies?
- As Henry Jenkins stated, "Today’s digital youth are in the process of creating a new kind of literacy; this evolving skill extends beyond the traditions of reading and writing into a community of expression and problem- solving that not only is changing their world but ours, too." Today's new media literacies extend beyond the traditions and into the community and real world. The new media literacies do not have to be just for school or just for the workplace. The versatility of today's literacies is what makes them authentic.
Article Citation
Gordon, C. (2013). "Students As Authentic Researchers: A New Prescription for the High School Research Assignment" Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/aasl/aaslpubsandjournals/slmrb/slmrcontents/volume21999/vol2gordon
I agree with your conclusion about your resource. If students are uninterested, then they will find a way to cut corners on the assignment just to get it done quickly so that they can move on to what they want to do or read. Authentic and relevant research is the easiest way to engage and encourage student participation in lessons.
ReplyDeleteSorry to stray from topic, but looking at the image, I think of a teacher's efforts being discarded by how the parent/guardian was educated.
ReplyDeleteI agree that students need authentic topics while utilizing various research presentation methods to become engaged and less likely to plagiarize.
I agree that there are different ways to present research. I think part of the groaning around having to write a research paper is the writing part. I think most people don't actually mind doing the research part of it, but having to turn it around and figure out how to write 10 pages about it (without sounding like you plagiarized the whole thing - intentionally or not) is hard work. I don't think we should stop writing research papers altogether, but I think the purpose of the assignment is important in deciding the proper presentation form for the research.
ReplyDeleteExcellent comments. I try to challenge students that I work with to pursue authentic research. Primary sources are there as a valuable resource.
ReplyDelete