UbD+-+Loyalist+or+Patriot+-+McKenzie's+Research+Cycle+-+Eileen+Mann

Hi Caroline- I’ve been reviewing your unit on American History; I really like the design and creativity. My focus during the library visits will be inquiry based, and I’d like to walk them through the research steps as this is the first large scale project for the 4th grade. I’d like to apply the // McKenzie Research Cycle //, as this is a great model to use with research teams, and will help them develop their cooperative learning skills. It also scales down the amount of information they’re exposed to. We can steer clear of Google and Wikipedia, focus on a smaller amount of research that’s more suited to their abilities. The steps include: Questioning, Planning, Gathering, Sorting and Sifting, Synthesizing, Evaluating, and Reporting. This may seem like a lot, be we can chunk it out in about 3-4 visits, though you’ll probably need to book the computer lab for extra work time. You’ve already reframed the research topic into essential and guiding questions. When you come for your first visit I’d like to walk them through // Planning //. I’ll revisit the catalog and WebPath Express with them, as it’s really the most reliable, time saving way to glean web information. I’ll also map out the databases that they should use, and review the citation tools available. I’d like them all to leave with a works cited page begun on their first visit. On your second visit we’ll review // Gathering, Sorting and Sifting //. I think we should design a rubric together, one that they could refer to when they review the information they’ve found. I think it would help them focus on the task. We could have them reflect on each piece they wish to use, determine whether it answers their guided questions, and whether it is insightful. You can decide whether you need to bring them back to me or if you want them to work within their teams when they’re ready to // Synthesize //. Afterward, we can review their note cards together and assess their progress. On the next visit, // Evaluating, //we’ll have them revisit their research materials and decide if they need to conduct further research (we can refer them to the rubric again).Let me know what you want to do when they’re ready for // Reporting //. You can use my space again if needed. The large group study area can be reserved, along with the laptops. I’d like to tweak the // Performance Task // a bit. We could have them conduct their written piece on a wiki, and respond through the discussion tabs? We could go full throttle and record them delivering their speeches on Glog, and share them with the other research teams? I really think this would be a great culmination. We could even get the administrators to come in for the final class, and gain some gold stars! Let me know what you think – I’ve had a lot of coffee today – I hope I didn’t scare you away! Eileen