This Isn't Your Parents Old Research Paper...Online Learning Through Research

The Dewey Decimal System, Card Catalogs, Encyclopedia's, Almanac's, Atlas's, Journal's, and Anthologies...these were terms that I heard often growing up and they were items I used often for school. I know...I know...I just showed my age...LOL! I remember my mom taking me to the library to get new books when I was a kid. I would go to the card catalog, look up the author's or title's I wanted and write the letter and number combination down on a scrap piece of paper and then run off to find the next great story that I would lose myself in. I also remember working on research papers in high school. Pulling information from various sources and compiling my index cards along with my citation information. I would spend hours in the school library, my local public library, and occasionally I would have to go to one of the college libraries located near our home. I enjoyed research, and the writing wasn't to bad, but the hours spent looking things up in the library and the shear weight of the books I used was a bit much at times. However, what I learned during the process was invaluable. Learning how to properly research and find information and data I feel is a lost art and an invaluable quality to possess. That is why I have always incorporated some form of research project for my students to complete.

With the internet, research has changed so much. Students are now able to access virtually any type of information from anywhere in the world instantly. Students don't rely on their school library or public library, they browse virtual libraries and scour the Library of Congress. They are not limited to just the books they have access to, they can call up materials from around the world. They can utilize Google Scholar and JSTOR to find journal articles and publications. Research is now instantaneous and global. However, students need to unsderstand what online sources are factual and usuable, and what sources are not appropriate or scholarly. I utilize online research in a variety of ways,I have students find answers to questions, I have them locate answers to homework assignments and worksheets, I give them online fact-finding scavenger hunts, and I show them sights that are not appropriate to ues and demonstrate why. The internet is a massive source of information. The key is ensuring our students understand where the information originates from and if it is an unbiased and scholarly source or if it is used for hidden agendas or to sway individuals to one particular conclusion. By using the internet and online research lessons, students gain knowledge, understand the value or disvalue of certain sources, and know where to find information that is viable and accurate in a matter of minutes. This can be accomplished in a variety of short term and long term lessons...but my students can rest assured that there will be one major research project and multimedia presentation due when they enter into my classroom.