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Independent Investigations

Explore how independent investigations benefit students, promote critical thinking, & enhance curriculum. Learn methods to plan, guide, and evaluate independent projects effectively.

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Independent Investigations

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  1. Independent Investigations The who, what, where, when, why, and how By Jenny Israel

  2. Definition of Independent Investigations • Independent Projects or Investigations are individual or small group studies of a topic of interest to the student(s), including the development of a product for sharing information learned with an appropriate audience.

  3. Purposes of Independent Investigations • Provide alternative activities that address the differing abilities, interests, or learning styles of compacted students • Enrich or extend the essential curriculum • Challenge the abilities of highly able students

  4. Advantages of Independent Investigations • Can be used in any curriculum area • Expand upon interest of student • Promote advanced planning, research, and technology skills • Encourage critical, creative, and higher-level thinking

  5. Advantages of Independent Investigations • Enable students to work with complex and abstract ideas • Allow long-term and in-depth work on topics of interest • Allow student choice • Satisfy intellectual curiosity • Increase student motivation and independence

  6. Investigations versus Reports

  7. “Think Abouts” in Planning for Independent Investigations • Student interest and learning profile • Student level of independence • Criteria to be used in assessing and evaluating student work • Connections to essential curriculum standard(s) and indicator(s) • Resources available • Dates to meet with individual(s) or group(s) of students to monitor and discuss progress

  8. Think Abouts • Ways to address student questions and/or concerns • Working conditions for students • Mentors and experts to consult with students as needed • Time for students to work in the media center or computer lab as necessary • Presentation of the final product to the teacher before sharing it with a larger audience

  9. Planning for Independent Investigations • Student planning and management tools available under independent investigations in enrichment folder on T:drive • Independent Investigation Product Planner • Independent Investigation Timeline • Daily Independent Investigation Log • Independent Investigation Resource Log • Product Idea Web • Independent Investigation Reflection Form

  10. INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION METHOD Follow these Footsteps to Success in an Investigation Topic Goal Setting Research Organizing Goal Evaluation Product Presentation

  11. Planning and Implementation of Independent Investigations • Conduct an interest inventory to students to determine possible topics/products Samples: ContentProcessProduct • Guide students in the development of essential question and research questions • Collaborate with the student(s) to refine their question(s) and/or generate a hypothesis • Set goals, including the design, evaluation, and presentation of the final product • Create a scoring tool that will be used to evaluate student work • Discuss final product, working conditions, resources, time lines, scoring tool, and due dates

  12. Planning and Implementation of Independent Investigations • Establish a firm time line and due dates • Model use of planning and management tools available in the enrichment folder on the T:drive • Facilitate investigation by locating and recommending resources • Explain how and when students should seek teacher assistance and support • Teach students bibliography, data gathering/research, note-taking, and/or outlining skills as needed • Monitor progress and offer assistance as needed • Have student(s) complete the Independent Investigation Reflection Formavailable in the enrichment folder on the T:drive

  13. Student Options for Sharing Independent Investigations • Students are able to share information learned during the independent investigation in a multitude of ways. Written products, oral presentations, artistic creations, visual displays, multimedia productions, or a combination of these are appropriate. It is important to provide an authentic or live audience for student. See the “Product Idea” form in the enrichment folder on the T:drive for specific ideas.

  14. Questions • What question/s do you have before we move to designing an independent investigation for your upcoming student?

  15. Let’s Design • Look at poster with post-it notes about your upcoming student. • Do a web-based search to find units or lessons for stepping off point. • ALEX • Begin filling out teacher template for independent investigations

  16. References • Westberg • Fairfax • Renzulli • Herbert • http://alex.state.al.us/index.php

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