Skill:

Self-generate quality questions that can be used to guide personal research on a given topic.

Possible Activity/Evidence:

Include question generation step in the research process both before research begins, and after some initial research is complete. Peer review could help here.

Skill:

Evaluate resources for relevance and authority.  Determine if this source meets research needs.

Possible Activity/Evidence:

Include annotations explaining the authority of chosen sources.

Skill:

Cite sources thoroughly and accurately including an authority statement and explanation of how the source answers the research question.

Possible Activity/Evidence:

Complete and correct NoodleTools works cited. Provide teachers with a citation rubric to allow easier evaluation of completed works cited assignments.

Skill:

Identify source types

(website, database, newspaper article, op-ed, blog post, academic journal, etc.)

Possible Activity/Evidence:

Include source type in annotation

Skill:

Accurately cite different types of sources.

(not just websites)

Possible Activity/Evidence:

Complete and correct NoodleTools works cited. Provide teachers with a citation rubric to allow easier evaluation of completed works cited assignments with annotation assignments.

Skill:

Synthesize info from different sources (how do they agree, how do they disagree) to answer a question.

Possible Activity/Evidence:

Note-taking template for synthesizing info

Skill:

Determine the best resource for a given research need.

(database, nonprofit organization website, corporate website, book, academic journal, newspaper, etc.)

Possible Activity/Evidence:

Statement in support of choices made during research to be included in a reflection to be completed after project completion

Skill:

Recognize, evaluate, and balance bias

Possible Activity/Evidence:

Include an evaluation of bias in source annotation

• Cognitive Biases

• Viewpoint & Bias Resources

• Fairness, Balance, and Bias (assignment needs adaptation)

• Digital Student Assessment and Lesson (assignment needs review)

• Media Bias lesson (needs review) 

Skill:

Independently determine an appropriate note-taking style for the task

Possible Activity/Evidence:

Include a step in the initial research assignment asking students how they plan to take notes. As a class, discuss note-taking needs and possible note-taking options

(see note-taking templates linked below)

• BHS-themed Cornell Notes (note- this link is not Cornell Notes)

  • Guided template

• NT Note Cards

  • Analog NoodleTools Notecards

  • NoodleTools Notecards as Slides

Table template (Sample) 

Skill:

Synthesize information from multiple (and differing) sources to create a unique personal evaluation of a concept, idea, or event.

Possible Activity/Evidence:

Present multiple perspectives of a chosen research topic - include evidence from each perspective while justifying personal support for one side over others.

Skill:

Independently plan a research process

Possible Activity/Evidence:

Write a research plan before beginning project describing what information they need to find and how they intend to find it.

• sample student research plan templates