Introduction

Questions To Get You Thinking:

1) How do I find answers to my questions?

2) Which resources are trustworthy?

3) What steps do I follow to gather information?

4) How do I put my research together to share my learning?

5) How do I tell my audience where I found my research?

6) What is information literacy?

You are gaining experience asking questions to then look for answers. You will use many of the skills from this learning pursuit to learn how to research to find the answers to your questions.

Researchers follow a series of steps to gather information. As you look for information, it is important to use good information literacy skills. You will be looking at the validity of information and for possible bias by the author(s). Do note that it is very difficult for any author to not be biased in presenting information. We just need to have the skill to be able to see opinion and to decide how useful it is. The point of many authors is to put across their thesis in a well-developed and supported manner. Once you find and record information, you will need to know how to cite your research sources.

There are several ways to go through the research process. The following is the one we will use at our school.

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Our Research Process

1. Explore

    • What is my topic/problem to research?
    • What are possible smaller topics surrounding my task?
    • How clear and focused is my task?
    • What is the question I am trying to answer?
    • What do I know now?
    • What information do I need to gather?
    • Are there enough resources for my research?

2. Plan

    • Where can I find information?
    • What are the best resources to start with?
    • How do I know which resources provide the best, most valid information?
    • What are smaller questions I need to research to help with my big question?

3. Do

    • Access sources of information & research
    • How can I be a smart searcher?
    • What note taking technique skills will help me?
    • How to cite my sources?

4. Share

    • Organize from multiple sources to make meaning for myself
    • How will I present my learning?
    • Who is my audience?
    • How will I use good design skills if it is a multimedia presentation?

5. Review

    • How effective was I in answering my research question?
    • How efficient was I in doing my research?
    • How was I in communicating my learning?

Note: A good book to guide you in the research process is The Craft of Research.

-Adapted From: http://www.big6.com/what-is-the-big6/ & http://www.sdst.org/shs/library/infolit.html & http://dnet.hkis.edu.hk/uplibrary/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=75

-Acknowledgements: Margaret Carpenter and Linda Breard shared their library and information literacy expertise in the creation of this Web site. Thank you ladies.

Now go to Task

Last Updated: May 17, 2012

Site Creator: David Carpenter