Module 1 - Lesson 2: Research Models

As a secondary social studies teacher, I have a great deal of information to cover with my students. There is a tendency to have to stand and deliver the information rather than allow students to learn on their own using other/print resources. That being said, I take it upon myself to provide ample opportunities for students to learn on their own. In order for students to be able to successfully do this, I have explicitly taught researching skills. Depending on the assignment, type of enquiry and amount of information, I have students make use of aspects of each of the four research models from the readings.

I find that the information seeking model introduced by Kuhlthau is easily applicable to learning activities where the task and topic is initiated by the teacher. Through this model, I am able to initiate a task and select the topic, but allow students the opportunity to determine the focus of their exploration. Students are then able to collect the information that they feel is more applicable and use it to present their findings. This research model is easy to teach and use as the steps are very basic but information acquired is almost always relevant.

I also make use of the Big 6 model of Eisenberg and Berkowitz. It is similar to the Information Seeking model however it lends itself more to critical thinking activities due to its emphasis on synthesis and evaluation of information. I find that this model works very well with any activity I conduct whether it be a small in-class enquiry or a larger research enquiry.

The research process of Stripling and Pitts is also something I use in my class. The major benefit of using this model is that students can better control what it is they are learning. This model allows students to pick a topic and explore it in a variety of ways. Regardless of the path they take, they always come to the same end (the end being the answer to their enquiry).

The B.C.T.L.A.’s Research Quest also can be useful. I find it to be very similar to the Big 6 Model but with less steps. In my experiences it works very well when applied to researching for debates. It also offers a chance for students to self-reflect upon what they have learned.

Each of the models presented in the readings can be easily used in my social studies classroom. However, in order for students to be able to make use of these models appropriately, it is important that the models and their steps are explicitly taught. Once students understand and master the steps and skills in the processes, they can apply them to almost any enquiry in any setting and in the process make them lifelong learners.