Research

 

The purpose of this class is help to help you explore the web as a research tool for you and your students.  Since you are in the graduate program, I am sure that you use the web for many resources and also many of you have your students gather information from the web.  Hopefully, this module will help you in both of these areas and give you a little more insight into the web as an information resource.

 

Definition of "Research" on the Web

In the most basic interpretation of what "research" is on the web, one can say that research is "searching" for information on the web.  Most of us in Academia think of research as a process that involves the collection and analysis of information based on a hypothesis. 

As an Internet user, you obviously rely on the Internet to gather many resources for your studies and for use in the classroom.  As a professional, you make a judgment about the authority of the the web site and the reliability of the information. The information that you gather can be synthesized and generated into useful ideas and activities that make you a better teacher. 

The "research" scenario is a little different for students.  First, students must learn to analyze their Internet sources for validity and authority.  Next, students must be TAUGHT to critically think about the information that they gather from the Internet.  Your goal as a teacher is to lead students through the "garbage" that is on the Internet and involve them in activities that will stimulate creative and original thinking.  The Internet should not be used as an "electronic worksheet" where students sit in front of a computer and search for factual information.  The Internet should be used as a resource to help students engage in meaningful activities.

 

Research: What do you and your students do?

If you are employed as a teacher, please approach this assignment from the perspective of your future students.

1.  Visit each site and write the name of the site and a one-sentence description of the site.  The information on these sites will help you with questions 2 to 5.  Please read these questions before you visit the sites. (6 points)

Using the Web for Research
http://library.ucsc.edu/library/eresources/main.html
A tutorial from the University of California at Santa Cruz

Using the Web for Research
http://www2.widener.edu/Wolfgram-Memorial-Library/WEBRES/index2.htm
A overview from Widener University

Using the Web for Research
http://www.denison.edu/ohio5/infolit/b5webresearch/
A short overview from 5 colleges in Ohio

Academic research Using the Web
http://library.smc.edu/research/webresearch.html
Research links from Santa Monica College

Brint.com Resources for Research
http://www.brint.com/Research.htm
Numerous research resources from brint.com

Links to Research and Journals
http://users.netonecom.net/~manleyk/Linkres.htm
Research links from Dr. Manley at Ferris State University

 

2. How have you used the web as a research tool?  Please be specific and give names of  web sites that you use for research (3 points - one paragraph).

3. How do your students use the web as a research tool?  Please be specific and gives name of sites that your student use for research (3 points - one paragraph).  

4.  For your students, identify a good online source for the following areas (5 points - type the name, address, and a one-sentence description):

5.  Item 9 implies that students are using the Internet to gather factual information.  List an activity that helps students use the Internet to generate any of the following classroom behaviors ( 2 points):

ERIC (Educational Resources in Education)

6. Go to:
ERIC
http://www.ERIC.ed.gov

How do you distinguish the following three links on this site? (3 points)

For each link, type the name of the link and answer these questions:
1. What is the purpose of the link?
2. Under what conditions would you use this link (in other words...what would you be looking for if you used this link?...how is the information different from other links?)

***

7. ERIC Journals ( 3 points)

Go to:

AskERIC Search Page
http://askeric.org/Eric/adv_search.shtml

Search for an "educational topic" of your choice.  Below the search box, you will see the option to limit your searches.  Limit the search to "Journal Articles" and the limit the search date range to the last 10 years.

List your topic and give the names and dates of three journals that have information on your topic.  If you do not find 3 journals, search for another topic.

Also click on any ONE document title such as EJ592334 and print the summary information.

8. ERIC Digests (3 points)

Go to:

AskERIC Search Page
http://askeric.org/Eric/adv_search.shtml

Search for another "educational topic" of your choice. Limit the search to "Full-text ERIC Digests" and the limit the search date range to the last 10 years.

List your topic and give the names and dates of five Full-text ERIC Digests that have information on your topic. 

Also click on any ONE document title such as ED457524 and print the summary information.

 

Free ONLINE Periodicals or Journals

9. (2 points)

A free ONLINE periodical or journal is one that if offered entirely online at no cost.

List 5 FREE online periodicals or journals for teachers.  Please type the name, web site address, and short description for each periodical or journal.  Remember that you will not be able to visit the web sites of these periodicals unless they have unlimited or free access (5 points).

You may be able to find this information at the ONLINE BOOKS AND PERIODICALS link of the:

Harvey A. Andruss Library Databases
http://library.bloomu.edu/pages/dbremote.html

If this information is not available at the library web site, you will have to use a search engine.  You should also check web sites of professional organizations.

©Raymond S. Pastore, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Education
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