Tag Archives: questioning

ICT Research Topics

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Research Skills – Thinking Required

  1. Questioning: See assignments below.
    1. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) topics below may be too broad to research for a 3 paragraph essay. Brainstorm 2 or 3 more specific questions.
    2. Review the Web Search In Plain English video. Create a list of words or phrases to begin an Internet search. Keep track of the words and phrases you use.
    3. Find the definitions of words you don’t know. Locate 1 or 2 possible sources of information.
    4. Narrow the topic to a more specific question. Your final question may not include what or how many. It should allow you to develop a deeper understanding of the topic.  Submit a question by the end of the class 1.
  2. Planning:
    1. Refine your list of keywords and phrases to use in a search. Keep track of this list in the word-processing document. document.
    2. Decide where to search. Remember the Deep Web.
  3. Gathering:
    1. Collect and record information from at least 2 reliable and valid sources of information. Use the 5 W’s to evaluate information sources.
    2. Create a bibliography entry for the resources you find. Use EasyBib to create a citation for each with an annotation. Placee these in the word-processing document. You will print and hand in the research question, list of keywords and phrases, plus a description of what search engine used, plus the bibliography with annotations by the end of class 2. The bibliography entry must be in hanging indent format. The annotation must be a bullet point under the bibliography entry.
  4. Sifting & Sorting & Analyzing:
    1. Take notes to support your topic. Organize the notes by information sources so you can correctly provide in-text citations later.
  5. Synthesizing & Evaluating:
    1. Develop an outline of the topic (see report below) The notes and outline will be printed and handed in at the end of class 3.
  6. Reporting: Communicate findings in written report. (3 paragraph minimum) Printed and handed in on class 4.

    1. Paragraph 1: Introduce the topic with a supported thesis statement.State the problem and your question. Paraphrase. Do not copy and paste.
    2. Paragraph 2: Provide specific examples to support your thesis statement. The examples to solve the problem. It must be supported by your research and from valid, reliable, appropriate information sources. Paraphrase. Do not copy and paste. One sentence may be a direct copy, but must be included within quotation marks.
    3. Paragraph 3: Your personal reflection as a Catholic student at ICS: How does this topic personally impact you? Paraphrase. Do not copy and paste.
    4. Intext citations for all information used are required.
    5. Formatting
      1. Your name, the Class Name and the date at the top left of the paper.
      2. Research question in bold, centered. Times New Roman size 18
      3. Paragraphs and bibliography in Times new Roman size 12, left justified. Do not indecnt paragraphs.
      4. Place one space after periods, commas, and questions.
      5. Spell check, Grammar check.
  7. Bibliography: Place the bibliography directly below the essay. Each bibliography entry must has a bullet point annotation explaining the validity of the information source. The bibliography entries must be in alphabetical order.
    1. Use EasyBib website to create the bibliography entries in MLA style.

Assessment will be based on the 6-Traits Writing Rubric and the Research Rubric located in the Documents tab on Sycamore. On the 6-traits rubric, you will assessed on Ideas, Organization, Voice and Conventions.

 

Topic Questions: Each students is assigned a topic to begin work but will narrow the topic to a more specific question. Students may share resources found but each student will research a different question.
  1. ‘Telecommuting’ refers to workers doing their jobs from home for part of each week and communicating with their office using computer technology. Telecommuting is growing in many countries and is expected to be common for most office workers in the coming decades. How do you think society will be affected by the growth of telecommuting? 
  2. Technology is making communication easier in today’s world, but at the expense of personal contact as many students choose to study at home in front of a computer screen. 
  3. What dangers are there for a society which depends on computer screens rather than face-to-face contact for its main means of communication? 
  4. Internet: Could you be without it? Discuss.
  5. Telephone: Coud you be without it? discuss..
  6. The internet has great influence in shaping people’s ideas. To what extent do you agree or disagree this statement? Give reasons for your answer.
  7. Does the Internet bring people of the world closer together? 
  8. Computers can translate all kinds of languages well. Do our children need to learn more languages in the future? 
  9. Smart phones are the solution to the digital divide (digital inequality). Discuss. 
  10. Not all countries allow or value freedom of the press. How does technology change a country’s ability to monitor information?
  11. You walk past a coffee shop and get an offer of a 10% discount on your smartphone. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of location tracking (or data mining or geotracking) ,
  12. Discuss the difficulties in censoring the flow of information in a society.
  13. Tweets, 140 characters at a time, can change the way society reacts. Discuss.
  14. All lectures in schools should be distributed as podcasts. Discuss pros and cons.
  15. Webapps enable students to collaborate and communicate which could reduce the amount of time needed in class. Discuss. 

All Saints Day Research

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Research Skills – Thinking Required

  1. Questioning: See assignments below.
    1. Brainstorm 2 or 3 possible questions to research about a Saint. The questions may not be “what” questions or “how many” questions that can be answered with a simple definition or number. The questions should be how, which, or why questions that will allow you tto develop a deeper understanding of the Saint.
    2. In pairs, discuss possible questions.
    3. Narrow the topic to a more specific question about the saint. (class 1)
  2. Planning:
    1. Review the Web Search In Plain English video. Create a list of words or phrases to begin an Internet search. Keep track of the words and phrases you use. Refine your list of keywords and phrases as you search. Keep track of this list in a word-processing document.
    2. Decide where to search. Remember the Deep Web.
  3. Gathering:
    1. Collect and record information from at least 2 reliable and valid sources of information. Use the 5 W’s to evaluate information sources.
    2. Create a bibliography entry for the resources you find. Use EasyBib to create a citation for each with an annotation. Place these in the wor-processing document. You will print and hand in the research question, list of keywords and phrases, plus a description of what search engine used, plus the bibliography with annotations by the end of class  2.
  4. Sifting & Sorting & Analyzing:
    1. Take notes to support your topic. Organize the notes by information sources so you can correctly provide in-text citations later.
  5. Synthesizing & Evaluating:
    1. Develop an outline of the topic (see report below) The notes and outline will be printed and handed in at the end of class 3.
  6. Reporting: Communicate findings in written report. (3 paragraph minimum) Printed and handed in at the end of class 4.

    1. Paragraph 1: Introduce the topic with a supported thesis statement. Provide background details about the saint. What was happening in the life of the saint that challenged the saint? What difference did prayer make in the life of the saint? Your thesis statement should provide a thought about how the saint inspires Catholics today. Paraphrase. Do not copy and paste.
    2. Paragraph 2: Provide specific examples to support your thesis statement. What is the impact or influence of this saint? Provide examples. What does it take to be a saint today? The examples must be supported by your research and from valid, reliable, appropriate information sources.  Paraphrase. Do not copy and paste. One sentence may be a direct copy, but must be included within quotation marks.
    3. Paragraph 3: Your personal reflection as a Catholic student at ICS: How does this saint or other saints personally influence you? Paraphrase. Do not copy and paste.
    4. Intext citations for all information used are required.
    5. Formatting
      1. Your name, the Class Name and the date at the top left of the paper.
      2. Research question in bold, centered. Times New Roman size 18
      3. Paragraphs and bibliography in Times new Roman size 12, left justified. Do not indecnt paragraphs.
      4. Place one space after periods, commas, and questions.
      5. Spell check, Grammar check.
  7. Bibliography: Place the bibliography directly below the essay. Each bibliography entry must be a hanging indent paragraph with a bullet point annotation below explaining the validity of the information source. The bibliography entries must be in alphabetical order.
    1. Use EasyBib website to create the bibliography entries in MLA style.

Assessment will be based on the 6-Traits Writing Rubric and the Research Rubric provided on the class page in Sycamore. On the 6-traits rubric, you will assessed on Ideas, Organization, Voice and Conventions.

Possible Resources

Alternative Energy Cluster Map

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Grade 5 – Cluster Map and Research Question

  1. Open a new drawing document in OpenOffice.
  2. Create a Cluster map. The center circle should be titled “alternative energy”.
  3. Create an outer circle for each alternative energy source that you can name. Label each circle with the name of an alternative energy source.
  4. Arrows should point from the center circle to outer circles.
  5. Select the text for the alternative energy source that you are most interested in. Make it bold.
  6. Create a rectangle near the bold alternative energy source. Enter a question you would like to investigate about the form of energy. The question must be a how, which or why question.
Sample start for cluster map

Sample start for cluster map

Research Skills

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Enduring Understandings:

  1. Information systems, both printed and digital, are the centers of intellectual, academic, social, and cultural life.
  2. Not all information is valid, reliable, relevant, or appropriate.
  3. Technology can facilitate learning when it enables students to explore ideas, solve problems, and derive meaning.

Research Skills

  1. Questioning: Frame questions to focus an inquiry. Write open research questions.
  2. Planning: Determine and plan research strategies appropriate for the research question. Determine appropriate primary and secondary sources of information. Use topics, keywords, directories. Sample Sources: the library, atlases, maps, graphs, visual sources, oral sources, on-line databases, the Internet, simulations, case studies, etc.
  3. Gathering: Collect and record authentic, relevant information from a range of reliable and valid primary and secondary sources. Evaluate and annotate information sources. Record information by: note taking, determining what is important/relevant, summarizing, enciphering & interpreting.) (See Successful Internet Searches and Evaluating Information Sources
  4. Sifting & Sorting & Analyzing: Use a variety of methods to sort, organize, process, integrate, and analyze information. Use graphic organizers. Use the writing process. Compare and contrast data. Make tables/graphs. Make maps. Create a visual-picture/cartoon.
  5. Synthesizing & Evaluating: Create new meaning and understanding, supported by evidence from information found. Write a statement supported by tables, graphs, maps, visual images, etc. Back up statements with citations.
  6. Reporting: Communicate clear, relevant and well substantiated arguments and findings using conventions appropriate to  the mode of communication. Provide written documentation. Give an oral presentation. Use visual images to support findings. Combine text with audio and visual to create a multimedia product.
  7. Citing: Use appropriate APA or MLA format methodology to cite reference sources and create a bibliography.  Annotated each information source with a statement providing proof that the resources is a valid and reliable resource to use.
Note: I’ve used these essential understandings for several years. I’m not sure what the original source was.

Efficient Internet Searches

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Tip #1: Search in more than one search engine.

What you use to search depends on your topic.

The list on NoodleTools provides an excellent summary of places to look depending on your research topic:

Kid-Safe Search Engines

Frequently Used Search Engines

  • Google
  • Yahoo!
  • Bing
  • Ask
  • Alta Vista
  • Technorati is a search engine that searches blogs. Example of use: Technorati is a better place to find information about “Alan November” than Google because if you search for him in Google, the top 8 links are owned by Alan November, so most of the information was written by Alan November. In the blogs you can read what people are saying about Alan November, not what Alan November is saying about himself.

Tip #2: Use advanced search techniques. Use essential keywords and Boolean (Not/Or/And) strategies.

By using a variety of commands in Google Advanced Search, you can narrow searches for more appropriate information. Try these Google Search helps:

  • Phrase search “” – By putting double quotes around a set of words, you are telling Google to consider the exact words in that exact order without any change. For instance, “evaluate information sources” results in different web pages than evaluate information sources.
  • Search within a specific site – Google allows you to specify that your search results must come from a given website. For example, the query [ iraq site:nytimes.com ] will return pages about Iraq but only from nytimes.com.
  • Terms to exclude (-) – Attaching a minus sign (the NOT operator) immediately before a word indicates that you do not want pages that contain this word to appear in your results. For instance, a search for Jordan results in very different results than a search for Jordan -basketball.
  • Fill in the blanks (*) – The query [ Obama voted * on the * bill ] will give you stories about different votes on different bills. Note that the * operator works only on whole words, not parts of words.
  • Search exactly as is (+) – By attaching a + immediately before a word (remember, don’t add a space after the +), you are telling Google to match that word precisely as you typed it. Putting double quotes around a single word will do the same thing.
  • The OR operator – Google’s default behavior is to consider all the words in a search. If you want to specifically allow either one of several words, you can use the OR operator (note that you have to type ‘OR’ in ALL CAPS). For example, [ San Francisco Giants 2004 OR 2005 ] will give you results about either one of these years, whereas [ San Francisco Giants 2004 2005 ] (without the OR) will show pages that include both years on the same page. The symbol | can be substituted for OR. (The AND operator, by the way, is the default, so it is not needed.)

Tip #3: The hits at the top of a search list in a search engine such as Google or Bing are not always the best sources of information.

Google ranks websites on the number of links to a site and on the number of times a site is visited. Frequency does not equal quality or validity.

Also remember that those at the top of a Google or Bing search hit list and those on the right side are advertisements for web sites. The owners of those sites have paid to be at the top or right side of the search engine hit list. In Google these are labeled Ads. In Bing they are labeled Sponsored sites.

Tip #4: Read the information in the hits before clicking on a link to the web site.

Does the language and depth of information seem appropriate for your research purpose?

*** For additional information see Evaluate Information Sources ***