The Mindful Research Hub
Building Mindful Research Skills through Gamified Simulations
Critical & Reflective Thinking Practices
Computers, laptops and tablets have become widely used among students in the current era. Google, Wikipedia and other online resources offer students a variety of options to do research and develop their interests. However, some middle and high school students are facing difficulties to complete academic research tasks in their subjects within assigned time frames.
Our team has designed an online wiki-based Research Hub through a series of gamified simulations with the intention that these practices could help students develop a better understanding of the purpose and process of research. Our design is based on the BC curriculum but can be applicable for students out of province as well as it provides teachers with a learning tool to help students improve their research skills.
Research Hub Components
Research Process & Reference Guide
This module provides students and teachers with the knowledge-based level of the Research Process. Check out our reference guide for MLA citation questions, good search engine techniques, outline the research and inquiry process, and define key terms, such as context, lateral reading, fake news, and bias.
Gamified Research Simulation
This module provides students with the opportunity to click through a mock research process similar to a digital escape room. Our intent, here, is to afford a space where students can take risks and receive immediate feedback within a controlled context. Students will explore different lateral readings to emphasize the need for context and the importance of parallel reading through nonlinear storytelling.
Research Process Interactive Graphic Organizer
This module provides students and teachers with an interactive google slide template to use at the beginning of any research project to guide them through the process of research (during class or remotely). The teacher or students establish the inquiry topics, questions, and/or problems and students use the framework to familiarize themselves with and clarify their search criteria that requires students to read laterally and build a case for a position they take (ex: Was Louis Riel’s conviction and sentencing justified?).
Student Toolkit to Gamify thier Research
This module provides students with the tools to synthesize their learning and showcase their research findings in an interactive way. As an alternative to the research essay or PowerPoint presentation, students can engage their peers in playing their research simulation, similar to the one we offer in Module 2.