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Designing Internet Research Projects for Students

This action research explores the design of internet research projects for EFL students. It discusses the importance of adopting research projects for writing development and provides seven keys to creating effective search and write projects.

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Designing Internet Research Projects for Students

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  1. An Action Research on the Design of Internet Research Projects for Students Hideto D. Harashima Maebashi Institute of Technology

  2. Introduction • Dull writing practice • Importance of adopting research projects for writing development • The WWW -- rich information resource for EFL students • Most EFL students are unfamiliar with information search in a foreign language • How should we guide them?

  3. Four Years of Empirical Study • Indivisualistic Action Research • Trials and reflections on improving “Search and Write” activities • Seven Keys to a Good Search and Write Project

  4. Seven Keys to a Good Search and Write Project • 1. Teacher control • 2. Student autonomy • 3. Variety of information sources • 4. Subjective over Objective information search • 5. Appropriate instruction on search techniques • 6. Appropriate selection of research topics and methods • 7. Project memo

  5. 1. Teacher control • Novice students to the Internet • Disoriented and easy to go astray • Class gets disorderly • Sheltered research projects with substantial teacher control is desirable • a portal site as a base • CIA World Fact Book • project (1)

  6. 2. Student autonomy • The essence of research -- autonomous pursuit of truth --must be fostered. • Students need to be exposed to a variety of information sources. • They need to learn the information search skills.

  7. 3. Variety of information sources • Problems with one or limited sources: • critical thinking habits • Media Literacy • passive attitude among students • plagiarism • Freedom to visit a variety of sources • Autonomy and responsibility

  8. Project (2) • Project (3-0)

  9. 4. Subjective over Objective information search • Objective information search • straightforward and easy • Problems • doesn’t stimulate students’ motivation for intellectual investigation • doesn’t develop their search skills • doesn’t foster their critical thinking habits • susceptible to plagiarism

  10. Subjective information search • elevate students’ overall research competence • encourage them to think critically • urge them to create their own views after evaluating different opinions • promotes Media Literacy

  11. 5. Appropriate instruction on search techniques • Autonomous research may end up in dismay without proper guidance on search techniques • Search techniques • search directories • search engines • effective keywords • advanced search techniques • other search tools/databases • research aid organizations

  12. Data Numbers Records Statistics List Table Standing Comparison Countries Facts Recent Transition Increase Decrease Some useful keywordsFor objective information search

  13. Opinions Views Review Discussion Forum Comparison Analysis Assessment Evaluation Criticism Critic Argument Opposition Objection Controversy Conflict Difference Repercussion For subjective information search

  14. Project (3)

  15. 6. Appropriate selection of research topics and methods • Not all research topics are suited for Internet search. • We need wisdom on the selection of research topics. • Awareness of the advantages and the disadvantages of Internet research and library research in terms of effectiveness and quality of information • Suitable areas of queries for the two methods

  16. Topics suitable for researching on the Internet and in the Library

  17. Internet • current issues • statistical data • frequently updated data • discussion results • quick data search • personal information • controversial issues • institutions and their activities • IT-related information • business-related information

  18. Library • historical or chronological events • established values, thoughts, theories, systems • famous people in history • works of specific areas(literature, art, architecture, etc.) • information about 3rd-world countries • academic studies in depth

  19. 7. Project Memo • Quite a few students misunderstand task objectives. • They don’t like to consult with or show their incomplete work to teachers. • What is citation about? • Have students to submit an initial and interim project memo • Help them hold clearer idea about the course of the project

  20. Project (4)

  21. References • Brown-Daniel Library (2001) Library Research [Online]. Available: http://www.tnstate.edu/library/library_research.htm • Dodge, B. (2001) Seven Steps Toward Better Searching [Online]. Available: http://edweb.sdsu.edu/WebQuest/searching/sevensteps.html • Nunan, D. (1992) Research Method in Language Learning, CUP. 3. • Pepperdine University Library (2001) Seven Steps to Effective Library Research [Online]. Available: http://rigel.pepperdine.edu/instruction/bisteps.html • Wilson, F. (2001) Effective Library Research [Online]. Available: http://www.nceltr.mq.edu.au/resources/

  22. Thank you!http://keiko.maebashi-it.ac.jp/

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