The
Search: Real Answers for the ‘Write’ People
Project URL: http://www.teachnet-lab.org/berkowitz/search/search_index.htm
How
it works:
This
inquiry-based project addresses the need to “write in order
to learn”. It prepares the middle school student for researching,
collecting information, and organizing data into a ‘mini’
research paper. It employs the student’s interest as a springboard
into the project and includes a bibliography as well as a component
that helps the student evaluate the reliability of websites and the
information that these sites generate. It promotes proper educational/instructional
use of the Web, paraphrasing information, writing a report, composing
a final reflection, and citing valid sources.
Standards addressed:
Students
demonstrate familiarity with public and functional documents, produce
a report of information, make informed judgments about technology-based
documents, demonstrate an understanding of the rules of the English
language, analyze and revise work for clarity and effectiveness, and
respond to non-fiction using interpretive and critical processes.
Materials used:
The students must have access to a computer with Internet,
and a word processing program such as Microsoft Word.
The
students:
Middle school (grades 6-9) General Education, ESL, and Special
Education students are the target population for this project and
it can be used as an ‘exit project” as the school year
comes to a close. It can be adapted and differentiated for all learning
modalities and difficulties.
Overall value:
This project teaches the value of research and the effective presentation
of valid informational materials. It creates a student “ownership”
of the research process, since the fundamental problem is student-generated.
It involves educational use of the Internet and prepares students
for high school work that mandates term papers.
Tips:
Due to the nature of the Internet, this project must be introduced
with the Kathy Schrock website that explains how to validate websites.
Students must be guided through their choices of topics, and a suggested
list of topics can be helpful. |
About the teacher:
Elissa Berkowitz Cusano presently teaches across the curriculum
from grades 6 through college level. She resides in Brooklyn, NY with
her husband and a few other miscellaneous, imaginary, and real characters.
Her hobbies are writing, sending e-cards, and making people happy.
Email:
LLisaBB@aol.com
Subject
Areas:
Language Arts
Technology
Grade
Levels:
6-9
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