Just had to report on my last two very exciting days. Last year we started a new 10th grade research project, hoping to teach the research process along with 21st century skills AND get the kids interested in “flat world”, global issues. It was a learning experience – mostly successful as far as it went. This year the teachers and I are revamping it to make it more collaborative. We have the students researching with the ultimate goal of writing group research papers on globalization or global warming, and also creating presentations as groups.
Yesterday and today I showed up in English classes to do my introduction to library research. Teenage groans all around. Although the students had done some background reading – they had not really grasped the breadth of subjects covered under the term “globalization”. Mostly, they did not appear to have any personal connection to the whole thing. So – the big challenge was to get them interested.
In my introduction, I use Karl Fisch’s wonderful work (remixed into a video by Scott McLeod) – Did You Know.
It is fascinating to see student reactions. Many find it frightening. Some of them see the challenges as exciting. All of them find the video mesmerizing. I love listening to their reactions and leading them in a brainstorming session. What are the problems? What are the challenges? What are the opportunities? Slowly they begin to realize that many of the topics near and dear to their hearts will ultimately provide ways for them to excel in a global society. Not to mention get them through the research process without dying of that dreaded teenage disease – Boredom. What a transformation!
Overheard during brainstorming and during research time:
“We really are allowed to research YouTube?
“Are you serious, we can write about “Gaming?”
“I did a presentation at my church about hunger in Africa – – I’d love to do more about that!”
“I know a LOT about MySpace – I could do THAT!!”
“We want to learn about YouTube. Can we create our own video and post it, and then track how many people see it and make some charts?”
“The period is over already? This was fun – it didn’t feel like research at all!”
Was everything a librarian/teacher’s dream?
Heck no. We learned that forming groups can be a problem for students. The social angst in one class was quite palpable. After that class, we changed tactics. The rest of the classes were told that they would eventually be forming groups. However, to begin with they were to do preliminary research on the topics they were individually interested in. Next they were to complete a form to help them develop research questions and keywords. Those were due at the end of the period and we, the teachers, would use the results to create the groups. Depending on how that all falls out – we will have groups varying in size from 2 to 4.
We’ll see how it goes. Right now – it is exciting to see enthusiasm!
