how do questions boost research?

This week's Construct module will be an opportunity to play with some technology in the guise of background research! We'll be using the Google Expeditions app to explore different locations - and practicing writing stronger questions to deepen our research skills.

Module summary:

• introduce: read an article and ask questions
• expose: re-visit Bloom's Taxonomy and take a field trip (virtually)
• practice: choose an expedition to research further based on questions and answers
• create: re-write expedition notes/script based on research
• reflect: take a survey and check in with Christine

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essential questions

• What kinds of sources add depth to research?
• How do we synthesize multiple sources to present an argument?

goals

• ​Students will understand that strong research includes a variety of sources - websites, magazine articles, books, documentaries, scholarly articles, etc.
• Students will understand that intentional note-taking allows us to organize and make connections between information to structure an effective argument.

activities

 INTRODUCTION

• warm-up: read Mapmaker article and ask questions as you go - at least one per paragraph
  • answer quiz questions, then review article and questions
• review expectations for website evaluation

EXPOSE

• Review question levels according to Bloom's Taxonomy
  • Improve upon the questions you wrote for the Mapmaker article; try out at least one question per level of Bloom's
• Take a field trip together (7 Wonders of the Modern World)
  • List questions raised; what are you curious about?
  • Write out at least one question per scene. Aim for questions at different levels of Bloom's

PRACTICE

• Explore expeditions using the "discover" option in the app
  • Here's a list of all current expeditions, if you want to start that way
  • Choose one expedition to focus on based on your curiosity of the place
• Study your chosen expedition, reading the captions for each scene
  • Choose 5 scenes to focus on
  • Write out one question per scene to build your curiosity (at least three per scene)
  • Research answers to your questions - gather notes and sources in a Google Doc and share it with Christine

CREATE

• Add depth and more interest/personality to your expedition by re-writing the field trip guide
  • Re-write the captions for each of your 5 scenes, either revising or adding information based on your research
  • Practice leading your expedition with your new captions
• Lead your expedition with classmates
  • Schedule for Thursday or Friday

REFLECT

• Take survey about the module
• Conference with Christine about your survey responses and feedback on the module

c-tachs

Writing

• Conduct short and more sustained research projects to answer a question or solve a problem
• Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach
  

Reading

• Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research
• Cite strong textual evidence to support analysis of explicit and implicit meaning of text 

Here is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Google Expedition destination ideas...

Ah, beautiful Antarctica... from the comfort of your couch. No coat required!

Or how about a waltz around Paris?

You can tour the ocean underwater without a snorkel or submarine!

... or explore the Grand Canyon without waiting to pull a coveted rafting permit.

You can immerse yourself in the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai...

... or do a little rock climbing in Corsica for the day!

documents

Google Expeditions syllabus

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