ERIC Number: EJ1092306
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 6
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1094-9046
EISSN: N/A
Search Strategy Instruction: Shifting from Baby Bird Syndrome to Curious Cat Critical Thinking
Cheby, Lisa
Knowledge Quest, v44 n4 p48-53 Mar-Apr 2016
The traditional way of teaching research often lacks actual information-literacy instruction and, thus, fails to teach students how to be independent researchers. Teachers may help students regain curiosity by guiding them to shift their idea of research from a fact-finding and presentation exercise to a process of inquiry that includes gathering and analyzing evidence, formulating new understandings, and reflecting on the evidence and understandings to share the result of their inquiry. This article describes the creation of a concept map to plan search queries. Students may work through these steps, developing a deeper level of engagement with their topics by categorizing terms by concepts and organizing how those concepts may be connected in a query. Next, students will brainstorm other terms to express these ideas, maybe narrowing or maybe broadening the concepts. Once students engage in high-level questioning and have a plan for something they genuinely want to explore, they will need to develop an understanding of the structure of knowledge and apply it to their searches. By teaching students how to search strategically for the purpose of pursuing authentic inquiries, and by shifting focus to the process rather than a page and citation count, students gain skills to be effective information-seekers beyond one particular assignment and reignite their curiosity.
Descriptors: Research Skills, Skill Development, Concept Mapping, Search Strategies, Brainstorming, Questioning Techniques, Inquiry, Data Collection, Information Seeking
American Association of School Librarians. Available from: American Library Association. 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611. Tel: 1-800-545-2433; Web site: http://knowledgequest.aasl.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A