What it is: The research process can be a hard one for kids to master. As a student, I remember thinking that it was a long process of random steps that were supposed to somehow come together as a completed project. I was constantly convinced that I would forget one of those steps and the whole thing would come crashing down around me. I’ve seen this same behavior in our students at Anastasis. We mention the word research, and we are met instantly with groans. Kids don’t really dislike research though, they do it all the time voluntarily. Kids want to know how to be masters at parkour and they immediately search YouTube and Google for videos, tips, blogs, etc. to learn all about it. Kids hear someone talk about dub step and will go through videos and connect with others who know about dub step. They didn’t believe me when I told them this is research. The Kentucky virtual library has a great interactive that leads kids through the research process step-by-step and lets them dig deeper into the portions that they don’t understand. It has a fun game board-like interface so that it isn’t intimidating for kids to go through. Every step of the process is covered from initial planning, to searching for information, to taking notes, to using the information, reporting and evaluating. I’m not a stickler for this process happening exactly as it is described, but I appreciate that the site gives students a starting point so they aren’t so overwhelmed with the “research beast.”
Please leave a comment and share how you are using How to do Research Interactive Graphic in your classroom!
