Task 2 - Researcher

Select context

Choose a topic or area of interest to you as a teacher (e.g., the environment, solar energy, literacy, music composition, dance, physical activity and movement, film-making, Indigenous cultures, the solar system, algebra, etc.).

Note: Do not be too specific with your topic, keep it broad so you will be able to find a range of different resources. For example: The example essay topic is "using technology to improve literacy skills in the classroom." I could have focused on a specific area of literacy such as reading, but this might have narrowed my search too much. New!

Research technologies

Use library databases (such as ERIC, Proquest, EdIT Lib), search engines (such as Google, Yahoo, Bing), and GoogleScholar to research how technology might be used for teaching and learning your topic in the classroom.

Note: A good place to start your search isFindIT on the Murdoch University Library home page. New!

Plus...cooltoolsforschools - research tools New!

Search and store resources

Include at least one of each of these types of resources in your references (that is, at least 5 resources in total).

• • Book (printed book or ebook. e.g., Murdoch library catalogue)

  • Journal article (an article published in a print or online journal. They usually have both a volume number and an issue number. e.g., FindIT search on Murdoch library home page, or Google Scholar)

  • Refereed conference paper (a paper published in the proceedings of a conference. e.g., FindIT search on Murdoch library home page)

  • Website (a blog post is a website. e.g., Google)

  • Movie or podcast (e.g., YouTube, TeacherTube or iTunes)

You may like to add your resources to the unit Diigo group so you can easily locate them again and start to build a library of resources for assignment 3 tasks and your future teaching. Information about Diigo and how to join the group are on the Unit technologies page.

Write report

Write a short report (minimum 1 page, maximum 2 pages), describing the results of the research.

• • Use word processing software such as Word or Pages to prepare your report. See example essay (Word version attached below)

  • Use EndNote (or a suitable alternative, such as Zotero) to prepare your references. See Support tutorials and tools >> Assign 2 Endnote.

Note: The Week 9 - Referencing online lecture/tutorial will provide information about researching and referencing. We strongly recommend you complete the online lecture/tutorial before submitting assignment 2 on the LMS. New!

Present your work

Upload the original version of your document (NOT a pdf version) to your personal website (e-portfolio), that you created in Assignment 1.

Note: A blank page with a single file attached is not very professional. We suggest you add some information about the assignment and the research tools you used to locate your resources on your web page.

See example student website Joanne, 2011.

Reflect on your work

Continue to comment in your blog about your activities and learning in the unit.

Submit your work

Download the coversheet for this assignment task (on the LMS) and check the marking criteria to ensure you have completed all requirements for this task before you submit your work (upload completed coversheet on the LMS).