IndependentInvestigation Method:

a Framework for Research Skill Development

E. H. Eastman

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• Demonstrate skills in self-directed learning, research, and communication.

• Production of innovative products and performances that show evidence of high-level thinking.

• Products reflect individuality and creativity.

Our Goals for All Students

,

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What are the steps in the process?

How is it used both for differentiation& to meet our required standards?

What does it look like in K-5 classrooms?

The Independent Investigation MethodWhat is IIM?

Example: 3rd Grade - Sharing the Planet

Central Idea (essential understanding):

Humans are dependent on and affect natural resources.

Lines of inquiry:• What resources are.• How access to natural resources affects human communities.• How human use of natural resources affects the world.

Focus: rights and responsibilities in the struggle to share finite resources with other living things

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Reading, writing, and critical thinking skills are integrated, applied and improved across the curriculum.

Big questions and essential conceptual understandings frame research studies at each grade level.

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Essential knowledge & skillsare embedded and applied throughout the process.

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Students aretaught theprocessof research …

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gradually

sequentially

concretely cumulatively

Through a school-wide 7-step

process, students are learning…

Research is a sequential process used to answer questions.G

There are manysources for information.

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Information must beanalyzed and organized,then synthesized into a final product.

They must share their new knowledge with an audience.

Enthusiasm and personal interests are a

big part of learning!

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They must cite all sourcesand must not plagiarize.

Plagiarism: the act of presenting the ideas or work of another as your own.

7 Steps

• A structure for successful research

• Flexibility for individual differences

• Cumulative framework for development of skillsTopic

Research

Goal Setting

Presentation

Organizing

Goal Evaluation

Product

The Independent Investigation Method

Primary:Guide the process with the whole class and research one topic together.

Intermediate:Work through research process on individual topics and independentlyapply research skills.

Student researchers will:• record information they already know (facts) • determine what they want to learn (questions).

• Pre-search & Immersion• Concept Mapping

STEP 1: TOPIC Deciding What to Study

Use a range of flexible strategies

tomap out

what we know & want to know

Student researchers will:j

• Develop a time management plan.• Record questions to guide their study.• Identify possible sources of information.

Determine and include both… Teacher Goals & Student Questions

STEP 2: GOAL SETTING Making a research plan

My Notefact Goal: 30

Required Glossary Entries: 5

Required Number of Resources: 3

Required Resource Types: Non-fiction book Your choice Your choice

QUESTIONS TO GUIDE MY RESEARCH

Teacher Question(s): What are the organs of the nervous system ? _______________What does the brain do?________________________________What does the system need to function and stay healthy?______

My Goal-Setting Questions: Student Questions go here.

SETTING RESEARCH GOALS

Clarity of purpose & expectations

Focused specific research

Step 3: RESEARCH

• Use a variety of resources.• Gather and record information.• Use ‘notefact’ format.• Cite sources• No Plagiarism!

Student researchers will:

Discovering new facts and ideas

• Short but complete enough to make sense.

• Written in your own words.

• Use phrases instead of complete sentences.

• Connect to your questions & focus on important ideas.

• Useful, meaningful, and easy to read.

Notefacts are short (note)and true (fact).

Organize information to create a clearer picture of new knowledge.

Use a variety of flexible strategies to represent new ideas

& information.

Step 4: ORGANIZING

Student researchers will:b

• Identify useable categories.• Organize with color-coding.• Sort, cut & paste.• Begin to analyze and interpret findings toward a

written product or project.

Activity: Categorization of Notefacts

Putting it all together

Organizing Chart: Kindergarten

Initially, students’ developmental levels may require more teacher control over the learning process.

Categorize & Color Code Cut

Paste & Organize by CategorySort by Category

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The quality of learning decreases without reflection.

Student researchers will:m

• Review goals set in Step 2.• Decide if they have fulfilled the requirements.• Evaluate the quality of their work in steps 1-4.• Move forward in the process or identify areas

for refocus.

Step 5: GOAL EVALUATION What was accomplished?

Goal EvaluationMY GOALSMy Notefact Goal: 30Required Glossary Entries : 5 Required # of Resources: 3 Required Resource Types: Non-fiction BookMy choice: Online Encyclopedia My choice: Video Clip

WHAT I DIDNotefacts Written: # of Glossary Words# of Resources Used: Resources Used:

√ √ √

Evaluating Research Goals (What I Learned)

KEY FINDINGS ABOUT MY TOPIC: (What are the most important findings you want to share when you get to Step 6 – Product)1.2.3.

MY KEY GLOSSARY WORDS:

2493

Step 6: PRODUCT

Student researchers will:h

• Make a plan.• Identify tools and resources needed.• Use writing and technology skills to transform

new understandings into diverse creative products.

Create Something to Show What Was Learned

Planning

• Role, Audience, Format, Topic• Layout & design• Tools needed

Role of the Writer

• Who or what are you as the writer?

• A character? A reporter? An eyewitness?

Audience

• Who will read your writing?

• A friend? Your teacher? Other students, a parent, or people in the community?

Format

• In what format are you writing?

• What is best way to present your ideas?

• A letter? A narrative? A speech? A persuasive article?

Topic & Strong Verb

• What are you writing about?

• Why? What’s the subject or the point?

Students should process and transform information,rather than simply write out answers to questions.

WritingR.A.F.T.

Print

Digital

See More Student Product Examples

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“The future belongs to a very different kind of person with a very different kind of mind – creators and empathizers, pattern recognizers and meaning makers. These people…will now reap society’s richest rewards and share its greatest joys.”

- Daniel H. Pink,A Whole New Mind

Multisensory Products & Diverse Formats

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‘Bloom's Digital Taxonomy isn't about the tools or technologies - rather it is about using these to facilitate learning.’(Via Education Origami)

What other tools or resources

should we add?

Step 7: PRESENTATION

Student researchers will demonstrate essential presentation skills.

Sharing New Knowledge

• Prepared and confident• Speak clearly & use new vocabulary• Knowledgeable and accurate• Look at audience & use visual tools as support• Respond to questions• Share sources of information

How IIM reflects…

Best Practices• Encouraging creativity• Developing Multiple Intelligences• Focusing on Higher Level Thinking• Inquiry-Based Learning and Teaching• Compacting the Curriculum• Flexible Grouping• Utilizing Instructional Technology• Differentiating Reading and Writing Instruction• Research Using Diverse Sources

To develop extraordinary learners through a program of differentiated, rigorous inquiry so that they may innovate and collaborate in a global society. The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme provides our framework for the development of internationally-minded learners who embody the ten attributes of the IB learner profile… inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective.

Our Mission

References “The IIM Model." IIM - Independent Investigation Method. Web. 31 Mar. 2011. <http://www.iimresearch.com/ii>

Nottage, Cindy, and Virginia Morse. 7 easy steps to successful research for students in grades K-12: Teacher manual. Epping, NH, 2006.