Independent InvestigationResearch Method

Patricia Crow and Amy Sweetapple

LS 542September 23, 2012

IntroductionIndependent Investigation Method

*IIM was created by elementary teachers Cindy Nottage and Virginia Morse (1984)

*Makes research process nagivable

*Very adaptable for different age groups

*Becoming more and more prevalent

Seven StepsStep One—Topic

*Tap into personal interests

*Not too broad or too narrow

*Identify prior knowledge

*What do I need to know?

*Use graphic organizers

*Can be a class activity

Seven StepsStep Two—Goal Setting

*What am I looking for?

*Think outside the box

*Are you still on topic?

*Create open-ended and focus questions

*Identify resources

*Time management

Seven Steps

Step Three—Research

*Locate new information

*Note taking methods

*Source information for works cited page

*Plagiarism

Seven Steps

Step Four—Organizing

*Synthesis of information (Interpretation and analysis)

*Irrelevent information

*Graphic organizers

*Not just sequential

Seven Steps

Step Five—Evaluating Research Goals

*Revisit assignment requirements

*Self-evaluation

*Checklists

*Summary paragraphs

*Future research goals

Seven StepsStep Six—Product

*Foster creativity

*Foster good writing

*Does not have to be traditional research

paper

*Can be more than one

Seven Steps

Step Seven—Presentation

*Public speaking skills

*Different audiences, different settings

*Plan

*Practice, practice, practice

Eighth Grade Social Studies/Language Arts Project

Influential Romans

AugustusJulius Caesar Theodora

Topic• Based on the videos we have seen, what

we have learned and what we already know, students will brainstorm the topic.

• Through Guided Discussions– What type of information do we need to know

about these people?

• Everybody in class chooses a Roman. No duplicates allowed.

Goal SettingGuided Questions – Developing Questions

– What do we want to know?– Who are they?– How did they change/affect/influence Roman

society?– What were any long term effects of the person

and his/her works?– How do you feel that they have influenced

modern society?

Goal Setting continued

• Determine form product will take.

• Set time line for due dates.

• Determine what type of resources are needed.

• Determine how much information you will need.

Research

• Teach how to take notes and how to recognize main ideas.

• Create Notecards using index cards.1) Source 2) Pg #

3) Summary or Quote from source, If Quote be sure and enclose with quotation marks

Research Continued

• Teach Easybib to cite sources using MLA style

• Emphasize DO NOT PLAGIARISE and teach what plagiarism is using tutorials

• Schedule time in Media Center to conduct research

Organizing

• Use an outline or storyboard to organize your research in preparation for presentation

Goal Evaluation• Use rubric to self-assess your product

(visual for presentation)

• Is everything done?

• Is there anything you missed?

• Is it done to your satisfaction?

• Is there anything else you want to learn, any further questions that you have related to your topic or Rome in general?

Product• Product will be the visual aid previously

chosen by the student to accompany their presentation.

• Students will have chosen from provided list or received approval from teacher.

Presentation

• Students will give an eight-to-ten-minute presentation to the class using their visual aide to teach the class about their person of interest.

Language Arts Unit

Unit: Ancient Rome

Topic: Famous Romans YA Novel Tie-In

Grade: Eighth

Collaborating With: Social Studies

Overview

After completing their research, students will select a young adult novel from a list of texts provided to them.

Overview

• After reading the novel, they will tie their works of fiction to their research in an analytical paper and a visual presentation.

Overview

The analytical paper consists of three parts, each consisting of two paragraphs.

Part One

Part one consists of describing the Ancient Roman researched previously and how he affected his society.

Part Two

Part two consists of a description of how the changes brought about by the Ancient Roman have influenced modern society.

Part Three

Part three consists of tying the work of fiction to the research.

Additional Product

*Visual

*Open House in Media Center

*3-5 minutes

*Poster Presentation Style

*Parents and fellow students

A New Spin

Must use a Web 2.0 tool!!

Step One

Topic

*Brainstorm ways in which the novel relates to research.

*What do you already know that applies to your topic?

*Pair up with two class members and run ideas by them.

*Map your ideas.

Step Two

Goal Setting

*List questions you have

*Play Good Questions Cubes

Step Three

Research

*This step was completed in the social studies unit.

*However, this is a good time to review methods for avoiding plagiarism.

*Review notes.

Step FourOrganizing

*Organize your essay from weakest to strongest points

*Transitions

*Diction

*Outline essay using an Essay Map

*Categorize pertinent quotes

Step Five

Goal Evaluation

*Review outline and rough drafts. Is there

any information you can omit? Have you answered your essential questions?

*Compare essay with rubric. Have you

included all necessary information and steps?

*Have classmates edit individual paragraphs.

Step Six

Product

*Write final draft.

*Read final draft aloud.

*Edit and revise.

*Create Web 2.0 visual

*Review rubrics one more time before turning in products.

Step Seven

Presentation

*Essential information for presentation

*Appropriate for parents?

*Practice presentation multiple times.

*Time yourself.

Conclusion

The Independent Investigation Method makes the research process less confusing to learners by providing scaffolding on which to build research projects. By breaking the process down into manageable steps, student stress is lessened, deeper learning occurs, and better products and presentations are created.

Works Cited

• Active Learning Systems LLC. (n.d.) IIM Independent Investigation Method. Retrieved from http://www.iimresearch.com/

• Ball, Deborah Loewenberg, and Forzani, Francesca M. (Dec. 2007) What Makes Educational Research “Educational”? Educational Researcher Vol. 36 Issue 9, pg 529-540. Retreived from http//www.jstor.org\stable\30137938

• Remsen, Ken. (2004) Using the Library to Improve Student Literacy.Teacher Librarian, Vol. 31 Issue 5, pg 63. Retreived from http://search.ebscohost.com\lobin.aspx?direct=true@db=iil@AN=502930534@site=ehost-live

Work Cited Continued

• Shapiro, Bonnie L. (1996) A Case Study in Elementary Student Teacher Thinking during an Independent Investigation in Science: Learning about the “face of science that does not yet know”. Science Teacher Education, Vol. 80 Issue 5, pg 535-560. Retreived from http://libdata.lib.us.edu\login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com\loginaspx?direct=true@db=edswss@AN=Ai996VE74800004@site=eds-live@scope=site

• Ungar, Barbara. (2010) Revised Research. School Library Monthly, Vol 26 Issue8, pg 40-42. Retrieved from http//search.ebscohost.com\login.aspx?direct=true@db=eft@AN=50298497@site=ehost-live

Images

Slide 1:

Crow: http://sweetclipart.com/black-crow-illustration-1102

Apple: http://www.clker.com/clipart-photorealistic-red-apple.html

Slide 10:

Caesar: http://warandgame.com/

Augustus: http://romancoins.info/

Theodora: http://www.utoronto.ca/ns/utorweb/

Images

Slide 18:

Poster Board: http://becomingamerica.edublogs.org/2010/04/26/working-on-those-presentation-posters/

Roman Puppets: http://www.yellowmoon.org.uk/product-Roman-Hand-Puppet-Sewing-Kits-N551.htm

Collage: http://waterforsixthgrade.blogspot.com/2012/04/before-we-leave-rome.html

Images

Roman Urn: http://museummasterworks.com/Catalog.php?page=5

Slide 19

Presentation: http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev093b.shtml

Slide 21

Eagle: http://www.angusrobertson.com.au/book/eagle-of-the-east/5963306/

Images

Escape:http://www.holidayhouse.com/titles_by_theme.php?THEME1=Adventure

Catigula:http://www.stevensaylor.com/BookshopUKJuv.html

Horses:http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219296.Four_Horses_for_Tishtry

Images

Slide 22

Sandman: http://thebookling.blogspot.com/2010/03/absolute-sandman-vol-1.html

Germania:http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3359092-germania

Gladiator:http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2011/03/review-gladiator-fight-for-freedom.html

Images

Marched:http://www.amazon.com/Marched-Hannibal-Oxford-Childrens-Paperbacks/dp/0192720260

Slide 23

Mistress:http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/q/kate-quinn/mistress-of-rome.htm

Apprentice:http://ofearna.us/books/yarbro.html

ImagesCaesar:http://libguides.lib.msu.edu/content.php?pid=72054&sid=1020960

Boy Typing: http://susanne365.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html

Slide 24

Cicero: http://www.sharkforum.org/politics/

Drusus Minor:

http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/romans/tp/RomansD.htm

ImagesGladiator: http://www.berkshirefinearts.com/01-13-2007_all-roads-lead-to-hbo-s-rome.htm

Roman:http://www.laits.utexas.edu/moore/rome/image/roman-sculpture-0

Slide 25

Roman City: http://www.afghanistanonlineforums.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1181926150

Malaga:http://cheapholidaysinspain.net/malaga-capital-of-the-costa-del-sol/

ImagesSlide 26

Belisarius: http://www.answers.com/topic/belisarius

Pantheon:http://www.historywiz.com/galleries/pantheon.htm

Columbia U:http://www.columbia.edu/home/about_columbia/tour/01.html

Conspiracy:http://www.bookworld.com.au/book/the-roman-conspiracy/4414886/

Images

Slide 27

Poster Presentation: http://www.diet-ieee.org/events.html

Slide 28

Mindomo:http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/mindomo-presenter-the-first-real-presentation-mode-for-mind-maps-248557.php

Animoto:http://sbsd.orchard.schoolfusion.us/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=246125

Images

Prezi:http://buckslib.wordpress.com/2011/02/16/add-pizzazz-to-presentations-with-prezi/

Glogster:http://newsletter.edutech.msu.edu/archives/tag/glogsterBitstrips:http://azharreflections.blogspot.com/2012/01/digitools-week-2-jan-16-jan-22-2012.html

Wordle:http://tedteachersnetwork.pbworks.com/w/page/30355297/Wordle

Images

Slide 32

Essay Map:http://whokilledmodernart.weebly.com/essay-writing.html

We Hope You Found This Informative

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